"Yesterday I wrote to the Home Secretary following the granting of a temporary injunction requiring the cessation of asylum housing in a hotel in Epping.
People, organisations and Churches in Westhill have supported and worked to ensure the wellbeing of those individuals the individuals residing at the Hampton by Hilton since it was first established as accommodation for Asylum Seekers in **. This was only to be expected from such a welcoming community. And I know this will continue.
However, this was never supposed to be a permanent solution. Nor could the community of Westhill have expected to still see new arrivals to the Hotel * years after it was first designated for its current use.
When the Hotel was first chosen as an asylum residence, I raised concerns about the impact on local services- and those concerns remain.
I have always, and still maintain, Westhill is not an appropriate location and that the hotel must revert to its previous state. And we need a date when that will happen. I regularly meet with the operators and continue to make that case."
Andrew's letter to the Home Secretary can be found below.
