The seaside town that fought against council plans to 'house migrants over elderly'
EXCLUSIVE: A town in Kent fought against the county council when there were plans to open a centre for asylum-seeking children in their area.
A small seaside town has won a battle against its local council’s plans to use luxury retirement homes to house asylum seekers.
Kent County Council (KCC) had plans to use a care home in Minster on Sea on the Isle of Sheppey for 50 unaccompanied children seeking asylum. It would have been one of nine such facilities in the county.
Privately owned Ocean Heights is a multi-million-pound facility with sea views that is sat empty. But the rumoured bill of £4million to renovate it for use sparked fury among locals.
This was only compounded when local care home Blackburn lodge shut and elderly residents were forced to move to other accommodation further away.
Residents questioned why elderly residents were not offered accommodation at Ocean Heights instead.
The fierce fight from locals, through noisy demonstrations, caused the owners of Ocean Heights to have second thoughts about leasing the property to the council.
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They pulled out of the deal, which Kent County Council leader, Roger Gough, told Express.co.uk was “disappointing”.
William Fotheringham-Bray, Reform UK’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, said he was “appalled” by the “lack of communication” by the local council.
Speaking about the resident's victory, he said it proved his town would not "simply lie down" and let the council "walk over them".
He told Express.co.uk: “It was especially upsetting when the residents learned that 50 asylum seekers would be moving into the Ocean Heights Residents Home, even though the care home closed down and the elderly residents dispersed instead of being put in the unoccupied Ocean Heights, close to their friends and families.
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“It makes me proud to be a part of a community that won't simply lie down and let the government walk all over them.
"It is reprehensible to label the concerned citizens of Minster as racists for not wanting to give in to the Home Office's demands.”
While Matthew Brown, former county councillor, accused the council of failing to carry out "adequate consultation" with local residents.
But Kent County Council leader, Roger Gough, said his local authority would continue "pressing the government to ensure all local authorities take responsibility for the care of UAS children".
He said: “The high court ruled in July 2023 that KCC must take every possible step to increase its capacity to look after all Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UAS Children) arriving in Kent.
“Currently, the council’s two existing Reception Centres provide temporary accommodation and care for UAS Children whilst they await transfer to other local authorities under the National Transfer Scheme.
“New arrivals of UAS Children into KCC care dramatically increased following the ruling and the existing provision is unable to cope with demand and so additional temporary accommodation is needed to meet the requirements of the ruling and to ensure the safe care of UAS children.
“Nine properties across Kent have been identified as suitable for new Reception Centres for the temporary accommodation and care of UAS Children. Government funding will be provided so they will not present an additional unfair burden on Kent taxpayers.
“We will continue pressing the government to ensure all local authorities take responsibility for the care of UAS children – ending the intolerable burden this national issue places upon Kent.”