Council launches legal action to stop hotel housing asylum seekers

A council has started legal proceedings against Stradey Park Hotel & Spa in Llanelli, which is due to provide accommodation for up to 207 asylum seekers.

It is the latest in a series of bids by local authorities to prevent hotels in their jurisdictions being used to house asylum seekers, on the grounds that doing so would breach planning conditions.

Cllr Darren Price, leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “Carmarthenshire County Council have commenced legal proceedings against Gryphon Leisure Limited, Sterling Woodrow Limited, Clearsprings Ready Homes Limited, Robert Horwood and Gareth Street regarding the material change of use without planning permission of the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.

“The case has been listed for a hearing on 7 July at the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London.”

The action comes a week it was reported that “around 100” employees at Stradey Park hotel had been told they faced redundancy from 10 July.

News of the redundancies was raised in the Senedd (Welsh parliament), where Plaid Cymru member, Cefin Campbell, said he was "alarmed" by the reports.

Carmarthenshire County Council described the redundancies as “shocking”, adding that it would “take measures to support the hotel staff through this period of uncertainty”.

A statement continued: “As with other instances of a large workforce facing redundancies, Carmarthenshire County Council is offering support to workers through its Communities for Work and Workways+ projects and will help these individuals with job-seeking advice and guidance; along with employment support which includes training and updating of CV’s as required.

"The council’s employability team are also exploring the potential for a jobs fair for the staff to highlight which jobs are available in the local area and bring various industries into the fair and will work with partner organisations, including Careers Wales and Job Centre Plus to provide information that individuals may require.

"Opportunities in the leisure and hospitality sector within the Council will also be highlighted.”

In November, the High Court denied injunctions sought by Ipswich Borough Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council to prevent hotels in their areas being used by the Home Office's contractor Serco to house people seeking asylum.

The two councils had argued that the housing of asylum seekers would amount to a change-of-use from hotel to hostel and therefore be in breach of planning regulations.

Last month, the Home Office announced that more than 5,000 asylum seekers could be moved into floating vessels in a bid to reduce the number of hotels being used for housing.