Trafford Council has been advised by the Home Office that the Britannia Ashley Hotel in Hale village will be used to accommodate asylum seekers from February 1, 2023.
The Council has been told that the group will be a mix of families and single women.
The council has a legal duty to provide healthcare and safeguarding and is working with NHS colleagues and local charities around practical issues, like supplying clothing and toiletries, as the group are only entitled to a small subsistence payment. The Council’s community safety team is also liaising with Greater Manchester Police.
Two weeks ago, Trafford Council Leader, Cllr Tom Ross, wrote to Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, raising concerns over the ‘lack of dialogue and planning’ about the Home Office’s decision to house the asylum seekers at the Britannia Ashley Hotel in Hale village.
A Trafford Council spokesman said: “We were alerted on Friday afternoon that the cohort of asylum seekers would begin arriving at the Britannia Hotel in Hale this coming Wednesday (1 Feb). Council teams are on stand-by and contingency plans have been worked-up so we can fulfil our statutory responsibilities in terms of practical issues like public health.”
Leader of Trafford Council, Councillor Tom Ross added: “I wrote to the Home Secretary two weeks ago setting out why housing asylum seekers in hotels like this is a terrible idea. These are difficult enough issues to grapple with, without the Home Office only letting us know at the last minute. As I wrote in my letter to Suella Braverman, our teams will play their part with professionalism and dedication, but this policy is utterly disjointed.”
Posted on Wednesday 1st February 2023