LOCAL Tories are calling on the Home Office to review a decision to allow the Holiday Inn at Woolston to be a venue for asylum seekers.
Cllr. Rob Tynan has expressed his disappointment that Home Office Officials have failed to listen to feedback regarding the hotel and its location. He further argued that the plan will have a negative impact on the local residential area and the local business park. Businesses and residents are rightly very concerned about the impact, security and safety in the area having seen what is happening at other sites in the country.
Commenting he said: “I am dismayed that Home Office Officials have failed to inform us properly of these plans and in a timely manner. The Holiday Inn Woolston is not a suitable location, and I will be writing to the Home Secretary to ask that she reviews this decision immediately”.
“I am frankly stunned that the Labour Council leader Russ Bowden and Deputy leader Cathy Mitchell, have not said a word to reassure residents. Residents deserve better. Whilst we know the attention of the Leader and Deputy is in Liverpool Crown Court this week for his trial, it is wrong that the residents are not being supported on such an important issue by this ghosted Leadership team.”
“Residents are rightly concerned about the decision to use the hotel, especially as Paddington House further up Manchester Road along with the Fir Grove, Grappenhall are being used to house asylum seekers.”
“I will continue to stand with residents against asylum seekers being housed in inappropriate locations and I will keep residents updated.”
Meanwhile, Theo Mirfin, newly elected Chairman of Warrington Conservatives added: “It is clear, only the Conservatives have a plan to control our borders so if you come to the country illegally, you’re detained and swiftly removed. At every turn the Labour MP for Warrington North, Charlotte Nichols has voted for weaker borders, against deportation flights and wants to scrap the Rwanda Plan that sees illegal migrants transferred to a safe country. Only the Conservatives are on the side of the British people, which is exactly why stopping the boats is one of our five priorities.”
In respopnse Ms Nichols said: “It is utterly laughable that Warrington Conservatives would try to blame anyone other than the last 13 years of Tory chaos for the situation that we now face. The asylum system is broken because they broke it. The backlog is ten times higher than when Labour left office, and now even higher than when Rishi Sunak promised to clear it last December. Home Office caseworker numbers are falling, not rising, and the Tories’ proposed solutions are not only unworkable but in breach of our international obligations. Labour is the party of law and order, including at our borders, and only a Labour Government will undo the mess they have landed us in as Warrington residents continue to pay for their incompetence.”
Holiday Inn at Woolston closes to public and set to accommodate asylum seekers
