Plan to house refugees in Bexhill criticised as 'inhumane'

Proposals unveiled by immigration minister Robert Jenrick would see refugees who cross the Channel housed at Northeye in Bexhill, as well as two disused military bases in Essex and Lincolnshire.

First built as a military camp during the Second World War, Northeye served as a prison from 1969 until 1992, until being used as a military training centre.

The plan aims to move away from the government’s reliance on using hotels for asylum seekers.

However, Labour councillor Bella Sankey, who previously served as director for Detention Action, described the proposal as “inhumane and hugely wasteful”.

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She said: “The government’s merry-go-round of cruelty and incompetence in asylum processing continues.

“Indefinitely detaining children, women and men in barracks is inhumane and hugely wasteful.

“It re-traumatises people who have fled some of the world’s greatest horrors and it costs so much more than operating a competent and timely asylum system that allows people to live in safety in our communities.”

Mr Jenrick told MPs that the proposed sites to house refugees would accommodate their “essential living needs and nothing more”.

He also said that the government was “continuing to explore the possibility” of using ferries and barges to reduce the “eye-watering reliance” on hotels to house those crossing the Channel to Britain.

Local councils have said they will work together and with local partners to “understand and address” the concerns that residents might have about the planned site.

In a statement, East Sussex County Council and Rother District Council said: “People in our communities are likely to have many questions about the government’s plans to house asylum seekers at the Northeye site in Bexhill, a former prison and military training centre.

“Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council will work together, and with all our local partners, to understand and assess in more detail the impact this would have on local communities.

“We will also share this analysis with the government and work with them to ensure the Home Office addresses all issues identified.”