Asylum hotel closure 'disorganised' and 'inhumane'

Until its closure on 5 January, the Bluemont accommodated 38 women and children claiming asylum in the UK

The closure of a hotel housing asylum seekers in Worcestershire has been criticised as "disorganised" and "inhumane" by volunteers.

Thirty-eight women and children were moved out of the Bluemont hotel in Bromsgrove on 5 January, but many had their destinations changed at the last minute, leaving them far away from arranged school places or support.

In one case a vulnerable woman, who had been told she had accommodation in Birmingham, was provided a taxi to take her to Norwich.

Serco, the private contractor responsible, has apologised for the last-minute changes and uncertainty.

More hotels hosting asylum seekers are set to close in Herefordshire and Worcestershire in January, as the government looks to end what it calls an "unsustainable" cost.

"It was one of the worst experiences of my life. The housing staff just didn't know what was going on... they were sending people to the wrong place," said Johannah Dyer, a volunteer from Bromsgrove & District Asylum Seeker Support (B&DASS).

Despite being given seven days' notice of their new accommodation, volunteers say taxis were sent to take asylum seekers elsewhere

Since 2021, the group had organised activities and English classes for the women and children staying at the Bluemont.

"The women were supposed to be given seven days' notice where they would be sent to. But on the day of moving, that all completely changed," Mrs Dyer said.

In one case, B&DASS said volunteers had to rush to help a victim of sex trafficking who was facing homelessness.

While she had been assured she would be transferred to accommodation in Birmingham close to counselling support, on the day of her move a taxi arrived to take her to Norwich.

Serco, the private company responsible for accommodating asylum seekers in hotels, has apologised for the uncertainty and late changes.

It said staff had experienced "a number of operational issues" on the day of the planned moves.

"The well-being of the asylum seekers in our care is our priority and we have been working hard to make sure that all these people are settled into their new accommodation," a spokesperson added.

Johannah Dyer described a scene of chaos as the hotel was closed

About 400 hotels have been used to accommodate asylum seekers, but the government has committed to closing 50 by the end of January.

Elsewhere in Worcestershire, the Mercure hotel in Bewdley closed on 9 January, while the Gainsborough hotel in Kidderminster is set to shut on 16 January. In Herefordshire the Talbot hotel in Leominster will close on 19 January.