Datchet community 'powerless' over asylum seeker hotel decision

The Datchet community has been left ‘powerless’ by the Government’s decision to re-use The Manor Hotel for asylum seeker accommodation, a councillor has said.

The venue, based in the heart of the village, has previously been used by the Home Office to house people while their claims for sanctuary in the UK are processed.

The Government has been attempting to phase out the use of hotels for asylum seekers but Windsor MP Jack Rankin said he has been told by the Home Office the village hotel will be used again due to a lack of capacity.

The Windsor MP shared an email he had been sent by the Home Office, which said: "We have been working hard to maximise the use of our existing accommodation footprint but unfortunately it has become clear over the last 24 hours that we need to stand up additional capacity at pace, contracted on a short-term basis, to ensure that we can continue to meet our statutory obligation.

"As a consequence, we have, with Ministerial approval, taken the urgent decision entered into a short-term contractual arrangement to re-use The Manor, Windsor, for asylum accommodation."

In a letter, addressed to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Mr Rankin said he was 'astounded' the council and Datchet community had been given so little time to prepare.

He also raised concerns over anti-social behaviour and a sudden population increase placing additional pressure on public services such as GP surgeries.

In December 2022, concerned villagers called a public meeting over fears the use of the hotel to house asylum seekers would lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour.

Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber met with villagers and reported the force at the time had received no reports of crimes linked directly to the hotel.

Independent councillor David Buckley (tBfI, Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury) told the Express that the community has once again been given no say over the complex issue.

He said: "The situation is not so much anti-social behaviour. When people are waiting for asylum they don’t generally cause any problems because asylum is their priority."

He added: “We have no power, both from an elected councillor point of view and from a community point of view.

“We have no say over our own community and our own area.

“It’s going to put the local authority under immense financial pressure. Once the asylum process has taken place and they get the ability to stay, that cost falls on the local authority.

“RBWM being already in financial distress will have additional financial burden put onto them.”

He added that the decision to use the hotel for asylum seeker accommodation deprived the borough of another hotel for tourists, an area he feels the area is considerably lacking.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed. 

“We have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing which will save an estimated £7 billion for the tax payer over the next ten years, and are delivering a major uplift in returns to remove people with no right to be in the UK. Over the long term this will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation.  

“We remain absolutely committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers and continue to identify a range of accommodation options to minimise their use."