Community speaks out as asylum seekers move into Mansfield hotel

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Residents have shared mixed views following news a Mansfield hotel is being used to house asylum seekers.

It is understood a hotel in the town centre is now operating under a Government scheme in order to house migrants.

While some supportive residents have praised the importance of providing a roof over the heads of some of the most vulnerable people in society, others have taken issue with the hotel’s decision.

One person, who declined to be named, said many people had been inconvenienced by the move.

A number of asylum seekers have been welcomed into Mansfield.

They said: “They turfed all the residents out who were living in the hotel, and told them they had two hours to get out on Sunday.

“There were about four permanent residents, one who had lived there for more than a year, and loads of bookings were also cancelled last minute. A children’s Christmas party was cancelled.

“It is just not the right place for it. A lot of people rely on the hotel.”

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Ashfield MP Lee Anderson branded the hotel owners “greedy”.

He said: “Like many of you, I am sick and tired of seeing our hospitality abused and people who are simply economic migrants cheating our system via small boats and dodgy human rights legislation.

“I will not be silenced and will name and shame these greedy hotel owners.”

His comments attracted plenty of support from his Facebook followers, but also criticism from Chad readers.

Teri Flello asked: “Why oh why is he allowed to recklessly name the locations? How does he get away with this abhorrent behaviour?”

Coun Ben Bradley, Mansfield MP and Nottinghamshire Council leader, told the House of Commons the hotel had been used to alleviate homelessness in the area, but had now been given over to housing migrants – something he had not been informed of until afterwards – and said the situation was ‘untenable’.

He said, as a result of the Home Office decision to use the hotel to house migrants, several people had to present themselves as homeless to the local authority.

He asked immigration minister Robert Jenrick to investigate this as a matter of urgency.

However, other residents have supported the hotel’s decision to house and protect vulnerable people from overseas.

One said: “They’ve got to go somewhere. It makes sense to use hotels if they are willing to take them in. Good on them.”