Surrey Councils Seek Legal Action Over Asylum Seeker Hotels

Spelthorne Borough Council in Surrey has unanimously decided to hire a senior barrister to explore all legal options to prevent the use of the Stanwell Hotel as accommodation for single male asylum seekers. This decision follows a Court of Appeal ruling that allowed asylum seekers to be housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which is now subject to a Supreme Court appeal. Residents and councillors have expressed significant concerns about community safety, the impact on local services, and the suitability of the location for asylum seekers. Council leader Joanne Sexton emphasized the need to send a clear message to the Home Office that Stanwell is unsuitable for this purpose. The Home Office has stated it is working to reduce the use of hotels as part of a broader overhaul of the asylum system. The council is balancing residents’ fears, which they describe as genuine rather than prejudiced, with the need to act within legal boundaries, especially following the overturning of a temporary injunction in a related case, heightening the legal challenge.