Linton on Ouse: MP says asylum seeker centre plans must be postponed until new Government is in place

An MP has called for plans to build a centre for asylum seekers in a small Yorkshire village to be postponed until a new Prime Minister is in office.
Nathan Hyde
By Nathan Hyde
Published 20th Jul 2022, 18:41 BST
Updated 20th Jul 2022, 18:43 BST

The Home Office wants to convert the old RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse into a centre for up to 1,500 men, despite the threat of legal action and a furious backlash from villagers.

Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, has been urging the Government to scrap the proposals, after they were first announced in April.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He claims that during a recent hustings each of the Conservative Party leadership candidates “confirmed that they had concerns about the putting such a facility at the centre of a small rural village”.

Villagers have been campaigning against the Government's plans to convert the old RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse into a centre for up to 1,500 menVillagers have been campaigning against the Government's plans to convert the old RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse into a centre for up to 1,500 men
Villagers have been campaigning against the Government's plans to convert the old RAF base in Linton-on-Ouse into a centre for up to 1,500 men

In a letter to Immigration Minister Kevin Foster, he wrote: “Given the ongoing concerns raised by all stakeholders, the overdue response to the pre-action letter from Hambleton District Council and the imminent change in Prime Minister, I would appreciate confirmation that you will postpone any final decision on the above until a new Government is in place.”

It comes after Hambleton District Council announced it is planning to take legal action to halt the proposals, as the Home Office may have acted unlawfully by failing to follow the correct process, and it sent a pre-action protocol letter last month.

Read More
Grant Shapps says passengers will 'see HS2 trains rolling into Leeds'

The Home Office has not responded, but continues to develop the plans and said the site is “urgently needed to provide essential asylum accommodation”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and MaltonKevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton
Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton

Under the current proposals, the centre will house destitute single men, while their asylum claims are processed, and they will not be detained there but will stay on site overnight.

The Government said facilities will be provided, so the men can shop, exercise, pray and receive healthcare at the centre.

A Home Office spokesman said: "As we continue to work on the plan for the asylum reception centre at Linton-on-Ouse, which will be as self-sufficient as possible, we continue to listen to community feedback.

“We maintain the site is urgently needed to provide essential asylum accommodation and will assist as we end the use of asylum seekers using hotels, which are costing the taxpayer almost £5m a day.

“Our New Plan for Immigration will fix the UK’s broken asylum system, allowing us to support those in genuine need while preventing abuse of the system and deterring illegal entry to the UK.”

Related topics:Home OfficeGovernmentKevin HollinrakePrime MinisterYorkshire