The Home Office will house migrants who have crossed the Channel in small boats are to be housed in military barracks while their asylum claims are processed.
The Government department has been accused of ‘exceptionally poor communication’ over the plans.
Around 400 people including families are to be housed in temporary accommodation at Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, from next week.
They are understood to include migrants who have crossed to the UK in small boats.
Local MP Damian Collins says he “cannot support” the decision and called on the Home Office to find “more suitable” accommodation.
The news follows after at least 168 people crossed to the UK on small boats on Monday alone.
In a joint letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel, Mr Collins along with the leader of Folkestone and Hythe District Council and the chairman of Sandgate Parish Council demanded that the decision be reversed.
They wrote: “We have great concerns about the impact this large open camp will have on the welfare of the local residential community and also those people in the asylum system who will be placed at the barracks itself.”
In a statement, Folkestone and Hythe District Council cited a “lack of consultation on this matter and the exceptionally poor communication with us”.
They added: “We are quite sure that members of the community will have many questions, and we are seeking clarification as a matter of urgency.”
We have been given confirmation today that the @ukhomeoffice intends to make Napier Barracks an assessment and dispersal facility for asylum seekers.
We know members of the community will have questions, and the council is seeking urgent answers ➡️ https://t.co/NiSNiKOAKU pic.twitter.com/iHyMBovO4E
— Folkestone & Hythe District Council (@fstonehythedc) September 14, 2020
A UK Government spokesperson said: “During these unprecedented times, the Government is working with a range of partners and across departments to secure further accommodation and the MoD has offered use of some of its sites.
“When using contingency accommodation we work closely with organisations, including local authorities and law enforcement, throughout the process to ensure value for money and that vulnerable asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute, have suitable accommodation while their claims are processed.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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