Hotel set to house asylum seekers from July

The 78-room hotel was sold to a London firm called Sterling Woodrow in 2020

A hotel is set to house asylum seekers despite objections from the local council and a local MP.

On Friday, the Home Office confirmed Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli would host asylum seekers from 3 July.

Labour MP, Dame Nia Griffith said the government's decision was "truly shocking" while Carmarthenshire council said it remained "firmly against" the plans.

The Refugee Council has raised concerns about integrating asylum seekers in the community and whether they will have the support they need.

The local authority said up to 207 people, made up of family groups, would be accommodated across 77 rooms.

Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith said: "The complete and utter disregard from Tory UK government ministers in deciding to go ahead with this proposal despite strong opposition locally and a lack of any proper consultation with the surrounding communities is, even for them, truly shocking.

"Using the Stradey Park Hotel as emergency accommodation for around two hundred asylum seekers caught up in the processing backlog created by this current government, is likely to put extra pressure on local public services and has already been met with stiff opposition from councillors, health providers, the police and others.

"I join with them, and with so many concerned local residents here in Llanelli, in continuing to vigorously oppose this ill thought out and unworkable decision."

Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Darren Price, said he was "outraged" the plan was going ahead.

"Even at this stage I call on the hotel owners, Sterling Woodrow, to reconsider their position and stop this from progressing," he said.

The news comes after a couple from Llanelli paid £2,000 towards their October wedding at the hotel.

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The Home Office has a legal obligation to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who cannot obtain it themselves, or if it does not meet the essential living needs.

Typically, someone seeking asylum in the UK would stay in hostel-style accommodation for their first few weeks before moving into longer-term housing.

However, backlog figures for the year to the end of June 2022, show 103,000 asylum applications are awaiting a decision - which may contribute to hotels such as Stradey Park being used.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Drive on Tuesday, Gareth Lynn Montes, the housing policy and research lead for the Welsh Refugee Council said there were "concerns about people being overcrowded in rooms" and "not having enough facilities".

"For instance, do they have cooking facilities there for them to fend for themselves? Otherwise they're going to have to spend their meagre allowance on food outside," Mr Lynn Montes said.

He added that asylum seekers were unable to work while their applications were being considered, which he said took two to three years on average.

If such a large group of people were in one hotel, "there is no opportunity to do some of the integration work", English language classes and other services, he said.

The Home Office said in a statement: "The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.  

"We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6 million a day.   

"The Home Office is committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and limit the burden on the taxpayer."