Asylum seekers will not be housed on the site of a former RAF base in a small North Yorkshire village “until it is safe and conforms to all legal requirements” it has been revealed after Kevin Hollinrake raised the issue in parliament again today.
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton called on the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, to reconsider the plans after concerns have been raised by residents.
Read more: Top steakhouse chain confirms when new restaurant will open after five year wait
The plans could see up to 1,500 male migrants aged 18 to 40 who have predominantly arrived into the UK via boats across the Channel housed in a former RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse.
Residents have pointed out that it is a small village of around 600 people and does not have the amenities nor infrastructure to cope with its population more than tripling in size.
There are also concerns over how much additional pressure it will place on local health, council and police services and how they will soak it up without any additional resources.
It has been confirmed by the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner that asylum seekers will not be housed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse “until it is safe and conforms to all legal requirements.”
The news comes after Zoe Metcalf penned a letter to Mr Hollinrake outlining her concerns over the proposal.
In a reply Mr Hollinrake confirmed that only once planning, legal requirements and safety was in place would they make a formal decision on the proposal.
Read more: Will the North East get a heatwave? Met Office reveals all as UK temperatures set to soar
She added: “He also recognises that the anticipated use of Linton-on-Ouse will create additional policing requirements and that the costs associated with this should be met by the Government.
“I very much welcome the Minister’s commitment.
Ms Metcalf continued to say she will be “working closely with the Government and communities at Linton-on-Ouse.”
She added: “I will ensure that residents on and off the site are safe, and feel safe - and that the costs of any additional demand on police and fire services, are paid from central funds.”
Mr Hollinrake raised the issue again in Parliament this morning stressing that although he supported the Home Secretary’s policy of reception centres, these centres “have to be in the right location.”
He added: “This is so they don’t present an unfair or undue burden on any one community, including the 600 people who live in Linton-on-Ouse, who are expecting an intake of up to 1,500 young single men right in the centre of that village.
“Does she agree, that policy should be reconsidered.”
Ms Patel ceremoniously thanked the MP for his question before arguing that reception centres are “the right way forward.”
The European Union pay for “EU member states” to build reception centres, something that Ms Patel said the “house would be interested to know.”
Read more: LISTED: The top 10 pubs in the North East and North Yorkshire according to TripAdvisor
She added: “Up to 500,000 euros and even more than that, but with that of course, we have to have the right conditions and the right facilities within these reception centres and that is exactly what we are working to achieve.”
-----
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated North Yorkshire Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here