A council that challenged the Government over its decision to house asylum seekers at a former RAF base has received a response from the Home Office.

Hambleton District Council launched a legal challenge to the Government's decision to house up to 1,500 male asylum seekers at the former RAF base at Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire.

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The council says the rural site is entirely unsuitable for such a population influx and expressed concern at the lack of consultation on the plans which were announced in early April.

Council leader Mark Robson said: “We have now received a detailed response from the Home Office in relation to our Pre-Action Protocol letter issued on May 25, 2022.

“This response is currently being assessed by our legal team who will then prepare advice which will be considered by both cabinet and council, who will then decide the next steps.

"This process may take some time due to potential complexities and the need to potentially clarify points.

“We have also received further responses from the Home Office in relation to the Planning Contravention Notice served in May.

"These responses are also currently being assessed by our legal team.

“The Home Office has now confirmed that we will be given a 14-day notice period should the decision be taken to begin moving people onto the site at Linton-on-Ouse.

“At present we continue to understand that no final decision has been taken by Ministers to accommodate asylum seekers at RAF Linton.

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“Local councillors continue to support and be in dialogue with the local community and we continue to aim to secure the best possible outcome for everyone.”

The asylum proposals have been strongly objected to by local residents who say their rural village is the wrong place to house so many asylum seekers.

Thirsk MP Kevin Hollinrake is also against the plans and has raised the matter in Parliament.

The Government says accomodating asylum seekers in large centres will ease the burden on the taxpayer as placing them in hotels and B&Bs currently costs the public purse £4.7million each day.

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