Fury at new migrant plan in tiny English village that faces almost doubling its population

EXCLUSIVE: Residents of the village of Wethersfield are incensed as diggers begin constructing an asylum seeker centre right on their doorstep.

By Max Parry, News Reporter

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Furious residents have accused Robert Jenrick of "piling" the onto their tiny village, after building work to house Channel migrants got underway yesterday on the former base right next to their homes. Diggers could be seen working on the site, which was used by airmen in and is still the home to 24 military families.

Tony Clarke-Holland from the campaigning group the Fields Association, which is fighting the Government’s plan to house Channel migrants on the base, told Express.co.uk that he heard Immigration Minister ’s statement to the Commons yesterday, in which the Tory MP revealed that Wethersfield and two other sites were to be taken over, and he was not impressed.

He said: “Listening to the guy, he said ‘we are trying to take the pressure off local communities’ [by taking asylum seekers out of hotels], but then they are just piling them on another community, so all they are doing is moving the problem.

“As far as saving money’s concerned… how much are they going to spend moving families out? Refurbishing the whole place?

“Then because they are [the asylum seekers] not detained… they are going to lay on minibuses or something. Well, how many minibuses [will be needed] for 2000 people, migrants, staff, security staff, it goes on and on doesn’t it.”

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Building work has begun at Wethersfield

Building work has begun at Wethersfield (Image: PA)

Tony Clarke-Holland, from the Fields Association

Tony Clarke-Holland, from the Fields Association (Image: PA)

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Wethersfield, according to the 2011 census, has a population of around 1,200 people. However, they could soon be outnumbered by asylum seekers, once the base is full.

Mr Jenrick addressed MPs on the asylum seeker issue yesterday, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman sat nodding behind him.

He said: “Illegal migration continues to impact the British public in their day-to-day lives.

“The sheer number of small boats has overwhelmed our asylum system and forced the Government to place asylum seekers in hotels.

“These hotels take valuable assets from communities and place pressures on local public services. The hardworking British taxpayer has been left to foot the eye-watering £2.5 billion-a-year bill.”

The village was out in the force to oppose the asylum seeker centre

The village was out in the force to oppose the asylum seeker centre (Image: Stop Wethersfield Airfield Prisons)

BRITAIN-POLITICS-GOVERNMENT-CABINET

Robert Jenrick announced three sites that the Government would use to house migrants (Image: Getty)

MDP Wethersfield Earmarked By Government To House Asylum Seekers

The MDP Wethersfield site that will house asylum seekers (Image: Getty)

Express.co.uk previously revealed that military wives and children are going to have to share the air base with the incoming asylum seekers.

One source, that lives on the the former RAF site, said: “Ninety per cent of the time my husband is away, so it’s me on my own with my children.

“It’s the same for most of the wives on the site. Our husbands' jobs mean they are away a lot. You know, it is concerning. We are worried.”

“We don’t feel safe”.

She accused the Home Office of pressing ahead with its plans without consulting with residents or locals.

She said: “So, from the Home Office, we've had nothing and the Home Office have been on-site multiple times and we've seen them on the site.

In response to the accusations levelled at the Home Office by locals and residents on the base, a government spokesperson said: “We have always been upfront about the unprecedented pressure being put on our asylum system, brought about by a significant increase in dangerous and illegal journeys into the country.

“We continue to work across government and with local authorities to identify a range of accommodation options.

“The government remains committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of this process.”

This comes as both the Fields Association and Braintree District Council, which has jurisdiction over the town of Wethersfield, are at various stages of litigation against the Government over the MDP Wethersfield takeover.

The District Council told MPs: "We have now applied to the High Court for an interim injunction. This injunction challenges the Home Office proposals to place asylum seekers at Wethersfield Airfield.

"We would expect such an application would be heard within seven days, and we expect the matter to be heard by the High Court before any asylum seekers are occupied on site. We will provide further updates as we know more."

Meanwhile local campaigners said: “Initial legal advice has been sought and we are in dialogue about the action to be taken with Braintree District Council as the local planning authority responsible. We are gathering evidence so that we are ready as and when we need to take legal action.”

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

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