Public inquiry over plans for Stafford asylum seeker centre

Plans to turn former student flats into a centre for asylum seekers are due to go before a public inquiry.

An appeal was lodged after Stafford Borough Council refused Serco planning permission to use the former halls of residence on Weston Road.

The council argued it would increase the fear of crime and that residents would not be able to mix with the wider community.

Serco said it would show both of those arguments were incorrect.

It said it had a lot of experience in running such centres and the site would be properly managed and would not generate significantly elevated levels of crime.

Details released last year outlined plans to use 171 room for urgent stays of up to four weeks and a further 310 bedrooms for more extended periods.

Despite Serco's barrister, Jonathan Easton, asking people to put their political views aside in his opening statement, this is clearly an issue rooted in ideological differences.

The overwhelming majority of people who put their views forward to inspector Gareth Jones oppose Serco's plans. The reasons they gave were fears of crime increasing, concerns around safety, pressures on local resources, and, as one individual stated, people coming to Stafford with "different cultures and values".

Hugh Richards, barrister for the council, acknowledged that "having such a concentration of asylum seekers gives rise to rational and legitimate fears of crime - both from asylum seekers and groups protesting." In recent months there have been a number of protests by far-right groups outside hotels housing asylum seekers in Staffordshire and elsewhere in the country.

Stafford Borough Councillor Frances Beatty, who is an expert witness for the council at the Inquiry, said some individuals associated with far-right groups had attended council planning meetings where the proposal was being discussed, and had created an "unpleasant and threatening atmosphere."

A representative from Cannock Chase Welcomes Refugees who also gave evidence today said she wanted to "assuage the fears people have about asylum seekers", drawing upon her own experience of being a refugee and working with asylum seekers in Staffordshire.

The plan was rejected in July last year with 250 objections to it lodged.

But Serco, which submitted its appeal in January, said it would design in "amenity spaces for future occupiers to socialise and establish connections and friendship groups" with the local community.

The public hearing is due to last three days, starting on Tuesday, and will be held at Stafford Rugby Club.

The council wrote to more than 1,000 people who had commented on the previous planning application to invite them to the inquiry and a number have asked to speak at it.

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