THE FIRST asylum seekers are arriving at The Grosvenor Hotel in Stratford.
Women, couples and families with children started arriving today (Thursday) after it was announced last week by Stratford District Council (SDC) that a hotel in the town was to be used by the Home Office as part of the government’s dispersal policy for housing individuals seeking asylum in the UK.
It was later revealed by an anonymous source that the hotel was The Grosvenor on Warwick Road.
The asylum seekers have all left their own country and are seeking protection from harm. They have not yet been legally recognised as a refugee and are waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim.
A SDC spokesperson said: “We can confirm that single females, couples and families with children have started arriving at the hotel. We are continuing to work with partners and other agencies to support those seeking asylum while their asylum applications are processed to claim refugee status.
“The Home Office is responsible for decision-making and the running of the hotel, however along with our partner agencies, we have a duty to ensure that any vulnerable individual in our district is safeguarded appropriately and their welfare and safety is prioritised.”
A Warwickshire County Council (WCC) spokesperson added: “Our priority is to protect asylum seekers coming to Warwickshire who have experienced trauma from their past experiences and on their journey to this country. The council, along with our partners, including the police and health services, will continue working with the Home Office to ensure we can all provide appropriate support for these vulnerable individuals and families.”
The spokesperson added: “We are not currently aware of Home Office plans to use any additional hotels to accommodate asylum seekers in Stratford.”
