The Home Office representative got a hostile reception on arriving in Linton-on-Ouse to explain the Government’s plan to house 1,500 male asylum seekers in a village with half that population.
The Linton Action Group staged a protest before the parish council meeting this afternoon (Thursday).
The message was “Wrong Plan, Wrong Place”.
Gary lives locally and explained why he was against the plan.
“Well, the Home Office don’t seem to be listening. I mean, everything they’re doing here goes against everything they say should happen.
“They’ve had lots of reports from previous experiences and failures, which have actually been repeated here.
“We don’t want it in our village, it’s just ridiculous.”
Ian, from Newton-On- Ouse, says his family live in the village of Linton:
“The overall reason (for being against the plan) is that, you know, it’s the safety of villagers with potentially up to 1500 males rampaging around free, I think it’s trouble.”
Watch more from Gary and Ian here.
[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]
Ministers have insisted the centre would “provide safe and self-sufficient accommodation”.
They say the centre, where Prince William trained as pilot, would help end the Home Office’s reliance on expensive hotels which are costing the taxpayer £4.7million a day.
Olga Matthias from the Linton Action Group is clear though. This is not right for the 1500 men or the 600 villagers.
“Well, if nothing else, the achievement (of the protest) will be that the Home Office realises we’re not going to give up this fight no matter what they don’t do.
“As they haven’t consulted, they haven’t answered any questions. But we haven’t finished not by a long chalk.”
After the protest a public meeting was held where residents expressed their anger at what happening discussing with Home Office staff various fears from safety to falling house prices.
They were also told it’s part of the Home Office plan that Home Secreatry, Priti Patel, comes to speak to residents. That provoked comments of ‘brave lady’ others suggested that means she will go straight into the air base avoiding village.
The video of the full meeting is available here: