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Despite a recent Court of Appeal ruling, some councils remain steadfast in their pursuit of legal action to prevent asylum seekers from being housed in local hotels. The court overturned a temporary injunction that would have stopped asylum seekers from being accommodated at The Bell Hotel in Epping, setting a potential precedent for legal challenges in other areas. Epping Forest District Council, one of the councils involved in the case, expressed intentions to explore further options, including a possible appeal to the Supreme Court.
Reform UK, overseeing 12 councils, emphasized the importance of exploring legal avenues to prevent asylum seekers from being housed in local hotels. The party leader urged Conservative-run councils to persevere in their legal actions and assured that guidance would be provided to all Conservative councillors following the recent ruling. Despite the government’s commitment to phasing out the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers by 2029, many local councils, including West Northamptonshire Council and Broxbourne Council, plan to continue legal action regarding the use of hotels in their respective areas.
Councillor Mark Arnull of West Northamptonshire Council reiterated the council’s determination to proceed with legal action against the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, citing concerns about the strain on local services. Similarly, Councillor Jim Clune of Broxbourne Council expressed planning-related apprehensions about the use of premises not aligning with initial planning permissions. The leader of Epping Forest District Council, Chris Whitbread, indicated a potential appeal to the Supreme Court and highlighted ongoing efforts to address residents’ concerns and maintain safety.
In his ruling, Lord Justice Bean criticized the High Court’s decision to grant the initial injunction, noting flaws in its handling and potential consequences for relocating asylum seekers. He also raised concerns about the cited protests outside the hotel influencing the council’s pursuit of the injunction. The protests were sparked by an incident involving an asylum seeker staying at the hotel, which drew attention to the issue of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers. Despite the Court of Appeal’s ruling, calls for a quicker end to the use of hotels to house asylum seekers persist from various quarters, emphasizing the need for a more proactive approach to the issue
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