Asylum hotel plan slammed by church group

The family fled religious persecution, according to one congregation member

Members of a Surrey church have criticised a Home Office decision to relocate a family seeking asylum as a "total waste of time".

Jane Dobbie, from St Hilda's Church in Ashford, said the family, who are currently staying at the Stanwell Hotel, have "fitted beautifully in the area" and are contributing to the local community.

It comes after the government announced plans in July to move families seeking asylum out of the Surrey hotel and replace them with single men.

The Home Office said it had committed to closing all asylum hotels.

"To achieve this, we will look at a range of more appropriate sites like disused accommodation, industrial and ex-military sites so that we can reduce the impact on communities," a spokesperson added.

'They're welcomed'

Ms Dobbie said the family, who had fled religious persecution in the Middle East, were "very distressed" by what was happening.

She said the plans had created a lot of uncertainty for them as they had been living out of packed suitcases as the moving date kept changing.

Ms Dobbie told BBC Radio Surrey she did not see any logic to the Home Office plan.

"It is a total waste of time and effort."

Ms Dobbie (pictured) said the family were welcomed in the area

"[The family] have got connections everywhere around the area," Ms Dobbie said. "They're welcomed. It's a safe environment for them."

The Home Office had previously paused the plan to relocate the families staying at the hotel following protests, with some residents concerned male asylum seekers could pose a risk to the community.

A Brighton-based NGO Conversation Over Borders earlier told the BBC it was a "harmful and unevidenced myth" that men seeking asylum were a danger.

Wendy Grantham urged the Home Office to speed up processing the family's asylum claim

Wendy Grantham, another member of St Hilda's Church, urged the Home Office to speed up the processing of the family's asylum claim.

"This little family are ready to work. They want to be part of British society," she said.

"What's so difficult about sorting it out?"

Churchgoer Bernice Ross said the family had been attending St Hilda's for about two years and always volunteered first to help with jobs.

"I don't know what we'll do if we can't have them here, I really don't. We'll miss them so much."