Council 'has money' to fight asylum hotel appeal

Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, has vowed to continue fighting the government in court

A council leader vowed to continue fighting the government after winning a legal battle to stop asylum seekers being housed at a hotel in Essex.

About 140 migrants must leave The Bell Hotel in Epping by 12 September after the High Court imposed a temporary injunction against them staying there.

Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, which applied for the injunction, said he would "find the money" to battle any appeal process.

Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle said the government would "continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns".

The Home Office made an 11th-hour effort to get the council's case thrown out at Tuesday's court hearing, but it was rejected by Mr Justice Eyre.

Thousands of people have protested near the hotel after an asylum seeker lodging there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town.

The Bell Hotel has been at the centre of intense protests and counter-protests over the summer

Whitbread said tensions were high in the community and risked creating "irreparable damage", but hailed the court victory as a "really big step forward".

"The biggest problem with The Bell is it's situated very close to five schools, residential properties and care homes - totally the wrong place," the Conservative councillor told BBC Essex on Wednesday.

He celebrated the High Court decision and accused the Labour government of not having a plan on illegal migration.

"This isn't the end, this is the beginning, but it's a really big step forward and I'm particularly pleased for the students, businesses and residents of Epping Forest," he added.

The temporary injunction was imposed after the council argued the hotel had become a public safety risk, as well as a breach of planning law.

However, lawyers for the hotel and home secretary confirmed in court they wished to appeal against the injunction before a full hearing was listed in the autumn.

Whitbread said the council had money reserved to continue fighting the dispute, adding: "We've got the capability and we will press hard for local people."

The ruling created concern among the government that it could face a tidal wave of legal challenges from other local councils whose districts have asylum seekers housed in hotels.

Somani Hotels Limited, which owns The Bell, also stressed it would lose its main revenue stream when the asylum seekers were moved out.

Protests began outside the hotel after 41-year-old Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

He denied the offences and remained in custody ahead of a two-day trial, due to begin next Tuesday.

About 32,000 migrants are living in 210 hotels across the UK.

Dame Angela has said: "This government inherited a broken asylum system, at the peak there were over 400 hotels open.

"Our work continues to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament. We will carefully consider this judgement."