Council Leader statement on asylum hotel injunction

“Using hotels to house asylum seekers is not appropriate. It places a significant strain on the local communities that live nearby. It’s very expensive for taxpayers. And, as The Refugee Council have said, it provides unsuitable accommodation for vulnerable people to live in.
 
“The Government had a dire inheritance, with a broken asylum system and over 400 asylum hotels open at the peak. We’re supportive of the progress they’ve made so far. The number of asylum hotels has fallen to 210, and they’ve made a clear commitment to end their use in this Parliament.
 
“But we want them to go further and faster. We want asylum seekers to be provided with more appropriate accommodation so that Cedar Court hotel in Wakefield stops being used to house them. The Government should instead work with Councils, housing providers, and local communities to develop a comprehensive plan to meet their needs elsewhere.
 
“We’ve been raising concerns about this with the Home Office since early 2023. We’re now carefully considering the implications of the High Court ruling to award Epping Forest District Council an interim injunction. Wakefield will continue to put our local communities first in everything we do.”