It has emerged within the last couple of days that the Home Office has decided to house up to 200 asylum seekers in the former Palms Hotel. As many people will know, the hotel, which has been closed for several years, is situated next to the A127 near to the top of Wingletye Lane, in Emerson Park Ward.
While details are scarce at the moment, it appears that the first people are expected to move in this week.
Apparently there was no prior notification of this decision to either Havering Council or the local MP. Both have written to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, to ask her to reconsider the decision.
Although the Residents’ Association of Emerson Park understand the need to provide temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum, we are extremely concerned that the location is far from perfect for such use and it is apparently expected that local GP services, other health services and schools etc. will be required to take on all of those requiring their services, without any extra resources being provided by the Government.
Havering is already one of the top five London boroughs in terms of accommodating asylum seekers placed in dispersed accommodation.
We will keep you up to date with further information when we have it.
