Hotel no longer hosting asylum seekers

The hotel is located on the outskirts of Royal Wootton Bassett

A hotel in Wiltshire is no longer be used to provide accommodation for asylum seekers, the Home Office has confirmed.

For more than a year, 58 rooms at the Wiltshire Hotel in Royal Wootton Bassett had been used as emergency housing for migrants arriving via the English Channel.

The decision was controversial among local residents who raised concerns after extra fencing was installed around the site.

MP for North Wiltshire James Gray, who campaigned against the hotel being used in that way, said he was "delighted" to hear the news.

'Far from civilisation'

Last year, the BBC spoke to Simpay Khalifa, a 25-year-old Sundanese man who lived in the hotel after he arrived by small boat from France.

He had described the hotel as being "far from civilisation" and spoke of their boredom.

"We need something to do like, for example, study some English courses," Mr Khalifa said.

"We stay the whole day at the room doing nothing."

Mr Gray said Wiltshire was "fundamentally the wrong place to house asylum seekers"

In January, it was reported that the hotel would revert back to housing paying guests in April of this year.

The Home Office has now confirmed this process has been completed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

“Ever since it was first touted for use, I have campaigned against it," Mr Gray said.

“The Wiltshire was fundamentally the wrong place to house asylum seekers and I am glad the Home Office have now listened to my representations and ensured its closure.

“I know the local community will welcome this news and, like them, I look forward to seeing the hotel back to its proper use.”