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Epping Forest District Council has decided to pursue an appeal following a High Court ruling that dismissed its attempt to close the Bell Hotel, which has been used to accommodate asylum seekers. Chris Whitbread, the Conservative leader of the council, confirmed after a meeting on Tuesday evening that the council will continue with legal proceedings, supported by a strong majority of councillors. This follows an earlier judgment by Mr Justice Mould, who ruled that using an injunction was not a suitable method for enforcing planning control related to the hotel.
The Home Office expressed that the court’s decision enables it to proceed with an orderly and carefully managed plan to close all asylum hotels. During a private session of the council, which was held to allow members to receive legal advice, Whitbread mentioned that the costs associated with the ongoing legal actions would be disclosed publicly in the near future. He also clarified that although council tax is expected to increase next year, this rise is unrelated to the Bell Hotel case, with the hope that the expenses will be covered using the council’s reserves.
Criticism of the council’s approach came from Jon Whitehouse, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, who highlighted that the legal expenses have exceeded expectations and have so far yielded no tangible results, instead depleting the council’s financial reserves. The Bell Hotel has been a highly contentious issue in Epping, especially after an asylum seeker was convicted of sexual assault, leading to widespread protests as well as counter-demonstrations over the summer months. These events deeply divided the local community, with some opposing the use of the hotel for asylum seekers and others concerned about the frequent protests and the heightened police activity.
The council’s initial success in securing a temporary injunction to close the hotel was short-lived, as the ruling was later overturned by the Court of Appeal. The hotel owner, Somani, along with the Home Office, challenged the council’s stance on using the site to house asylum seekers. Despite this legal setback, Epping Forest District Council remains committed to pursuing further action to address the controversy surrounding the Bell Hotel
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