The leader of North Yorkshire Council has accused the Government of contradicting its own position on housing migrants near schools by proposing the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse base for an asylum centre.
In a letter to Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris MP, Councillor Carl Les urges ministers to abandon plans to use the site to accommodate up to 1,200 single male asylum seekers.
Cllr Les said the proposal “clearly contradicts” comments made by the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood that asylum accommodation should not be located close to sensitive sites such as schools and nurseries.
He added: “Both Linton-on-Ouse Primary School and Pre-School Nursery are very close to the former Ministry of Defence site you plan to use to house significant numbers of adult male asylum seekers.”
Cllr Les described himself as “dismayed” that the Government was once again considering the site, despite the Home Office concluding in 2022 that it was unsuitable for housing asylum seekers following extensive due diligence.
While stressing that North Yorkshire Council supports the principle of providing asylum seekers with safe and dignified accommodation, he argued that Linton-on-Ouse was the “wrong proposal at the wrong location”.
He said the village’s limited infrastructure, lack of healthcare provision, poor transport links and absence of even a village shop made it unsuitable for accommodating up to 1,200 people.
The letter also claims concerns previously raised by utility companies over electricity capacity and the ability of the local sewage treatment works to cope with increased demand have not been resolved.
Cllr Les further warned the proposal would place significant, unfunded pressure on public services, including policing and healthcare, while leaving asylum seekers isolated from the support networks they need.
Concluding his letter, he said: “I would ask that you listen to the community of Linton-on-Ouse and the local parish council, the local MP, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, local elected member Cllr Malcolm Taylor and the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith and myself who are united in asking that this proposal is reconsidered and rejected.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted the Home Office for a response.
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