EPPING locals have blasted the decision to keep migrants in the Bell Hotel as “absolutely disgusting” and warned it will be “nothing but trouble”.
The landmark ruling to boot migrants out of the Epping hotel was today plunged into chaos after the Court of Appeal overturned it.
GettyProtesters gather outside The Bell Hotel after the Court of Appeal overturned order to evict asylum seekers[/caption]
Grandmother-of-five Angie Claire said she fears for the safety of local children
LNPPolice stationed outside the hotel[/caption]
Louis WoodR-L Shirley Mooney, Sarah White, Carmen McDonald outside The Bell hotel[/caption]
Angie Claire, 56, who has five grandchildren aged under seven, is protesting outside the building this evening.
She told the Sun: “I think it’s absolutely disgusting for the safety of the children in the area.
“There’s been nothing but trouble and I think it’s going to cause more problems with the general public that live here as well.
“I’ve got nothing against immigrants but when they’re causing trouble and problems with our children, they need to be moved on. Sent back, I don’t care, but move them out of Epping.
“I think they should go home. Why should our government be funding all of this? I think it’s disgusting.
“My grandchildren are going to be going to schools round here and the last thing I want is them growing up in this sort of environment. It’s the last thing I want.
“My children grew up here and they were safe. We never had a worry in the world. Now there’s a fear of our children even walking out the front doors so I think it’s best they go.”
Her mum Margaret Claire, 78, added: “Politicians should come and live here and see how it is.
“Or put them on a coach and go and drop them outside the Government and say ‘you want them? There you go – deal with it.”
Meanwhile, mum-of-two Anna Hall, 57, who works in accounts, has attended every Epping protest bar one as she fears for her young grandson’s safety.
She said while wearing her ‘pink ladies’ fleece: “I’m very disappointed with the judgement. But having listened to what the judge has said, I can understand why they’ve gone down that route.
“They picked up on what some of the previous judge has done and criticised that and there may be some merit but it’s not the end because we have the full hearing in October.
“It’s only a temporary setback. If it was that easy to fix, it would have been done years ago.
“I don’t think it’s right that we’ve got unknown, illegally arrived men free to roam around potentially committing crime.
“I don’t see why the taxpayer is funding hotels and giving them three meals a day and what have you.
“In the original hearing, Somani Hotels stated this was a lifeline to his business. It’s not for the British taxpayer to give out lifelines to failing businesses.”
Avalon.redNigel Farage said migrants have ‘more rights than British people under Starmer’[/caption]
Louis WoodLynn Cook said she was ‘disappointed’ in the ruling[/caption]
GettyPink Ladies demonstrators waving the Union Jack[/caption]
Louis WoodLaura Reeves claimed the community now fears for their children[/caption]
And grandmother-of-five Lynn Cook, 70, said: “I’m disappointed by the judgement because they’ve just been dumped in the hotel. People don’t want them living on their backdoor.
“I think it needs to be more secure because of what’s happened with the schoolchildren.
“I know they need somewhere to live but the Government needs to get its act together as I think they’ve been a bit lax really.
“The MPs don’t live with these people. We’ve heard they’re going in Tesco and shoplifting, walking out and nothing’s being done about it.”
‘PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MARCH’
Another mum-of-two Laura Reeves, 50 told the Sun: “I feel there’s too many people in the hotel. And where are they going to put them now the decision’s been overturned?
“We can’t put them in the community and that’s what’s worrying everyone. You worry about your children walking the streets now.
“We’re all disappointed because it’s a little village. But now we’re like sitting ducks waiting and worrying for a final decision.
“People are going to march and they’re going to keep on protesting. It’s probably going to make them more angry.”
The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, has been surrounded by controversy after two of its guests were charged with sexual offences.
It’s hypocrisy and a complete mess
Shirley
Epping Forest District Council last week won a bid at the High Court to block migrants from being housed at the hotel.
The temporary injunction meant that the building had to be cleared of its occupants by September 12.
It also caused a ripple effect across the UK as more councils launched their own bids to boot migrants out of hotels in their towns.
But the Court of Appeal today overturned the injunction following an appeal by the Home Office and hotel owners Somani – meaning the migrants can stay where they are for now.
It also gave permission for the Home Office to appeal against Mr Justice Eyre’s ruling not to let it intervene in the case as their involvement was “not necessary”.
Starmer’s joy at hotel ruling won’t last – Farage will land more crushing blows – ANALYSIS
By Ryan Sabey
Sir Keir Starmer may well take a sip on a cold drink at the end of his summer holiday today after winning the Court of Appeal hearing.
But any delight from the Prime Minister’s will be extremely short-lived as he works through the practical ramifications of the controversial asylum hotel staying open.
Sir Keir and his Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have got through this legal battle but the knock-on effects are now huge.
The crux of the problems for the government are that they wanted to keep the Bell Hotel in Epping OPEN when so much noise has been created about CLOSING them.
Political opponents such as senior Tory Robert Jenrick hit out at Ms Cooper saying taxpayer money was used for this appeal.
He says this Labour government are on the side of illegal migrants who have broken into the country. Ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe simply says Ministers must deport the illegal migrants.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch was also quickly out to react against the ruling saying it pits the rights of illegal migrants against the people who are seeing their communities ruined.
She also urges Tory councils up and down the country to “keep going” if they seek similar injunctions to close asylum hotels.
She pointedly adds in her response to the ruling: “The public can see exactly who is fighting to keep these hotels open. It’s Labour.”
The legal action will appear bizarrely to many to be in sheer contrast to the long-term plan to actually close these hotels, which are costing around £5 million per day.
Ms Cooper as part of the government appeal even used the European Convention of Human Rights to say she has an obligation not to kick migrants on the streets.
It’s all so messy when we’ve had a string of Labour MPs followed by party grandees including Lord Blunkett and Jack Straw questioning why we abide by Strasbourg rules.
The ruling, by three Court of Appeal judges, will only raise tensions with local communities who want to see hotels that are blighting communities closed.
Despite the pledge to close them, the public have yet to see alternative accommodation that will be provided to house thousands of migrants.
One person who will immediately take advantage of the ruling is Reform UK Nigel Farage. Look at the difference between his positioning and that of the PM.
On Tuesday this week, Mr Farage spelled out his plans to detain and deport thousands of migrants sending them on their way of deportation flight after deportation flight.
He will simply point at the PM and tell his growing legion of supporters that the PM wants the opposite of them.
The government wants to close these hotels step by step in a measured, practical way.
For the public, time and patience with the PM to deal with illegal immigration and the Channel small boats problem is running out. And running out quick.
Perhaps the PM will want to pour another drink before he heads back to Britain.
It came after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper made a last-ditch bid to join the battle.
Giving a summary of their ruling, Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, said: “We conclude that the judge made a number of errors in principle, which undermine this decision.”
He continued: “The judge’s approach ignores the obvious consequence that the closure of one site means capacity needs to be identified elsewhere in the system.”
The ruling will come as a relief to the Home Office, which had been braced for further legal challenges from other councils over the use of hotels in their areas.
It is also likely to heighten tensions after the Home Office argued the human rights of asylum seekers trump those of Epping Council and, by extension, the residents they are elected to serve.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage led fury at today’s decision – claiming migrants have “more rights than British people under Starmer”.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch echoed the sentiment, adding: “Keir Starmer has shown that he puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities.
“This ruling is a setback, but it is not the end. I say to Conservative councils seeking similar injunctions against asylum hotels – KEEP GOING!
“Every case has different circumstances, and I know good Conservative councils will keep fighting for residents, so we will keep working with them every step of the way.”
‘ABSOLUTE DISGRACE’
Pals Carmen MacDonald and Shirley Mooney turned up to protest this evening wearing ‘Pink Ladies’ T shirts emblazoned with “The Only Way is Epping” and “Send them home, protect our kids”.
Carmen, 60, said: “The court decision is an absolute disgrace and an utter joke.
“That judge needs sacking. As soon as I heard the news I thought I needed to get up here to show my support.
“We’ve been peacefully demonstrating week after week all excited for them hopefully being sent out the hotel and now it’s been overturned.
“The kids go back to school next week which is scary. I’ve got granddaughters.”
Shirley, 68, who carrys a rape alarm attached to her handbag, added: “I got this as soon as I heard about the incident involving a young girl.
“It makes me feel a bit safer to walk the streets as the noise will hopefully scare them off.
“I’m devastated and sick to the stomach at the injunction being overturned.
“Home Secretary Yvette Cooper talks a good talk about shutting down the asylum hotel system. But the reality is the Government is fighting to keep this one open.
“It’s hypocrisy and a complete mess.”
But the case is far from over – with a further hearing to come in October still after Epping Council accused the hotel of operating unlawfully.
The hotel previously housed migrants from May 2020 to March 2021, then from October 2022 to April 2024.
Protests erupted outside the taxpayer-funded “surge” accommodation for illegal arrivals last month.
Since tensions reached boiling point, violent demonstrations have cost the force around £100,000.
A total of 28 people have been arrested in relation to disorder at the hotel, and 16 of them have been charged.
It came after Hadush Kebatu was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
Kebatu, 41, stood trial on Tuesday and Wednesday, where the court was told he allegedly targeted the teen just eight days after arriving in the UK on a rubber dinghy.
He is accused of trying to kiss her and telling her he wants her babies, as well as a separate charge of sexually assaulting an adult woman.
Another man who was living at the site, Syrian national Mohammed Sharwarq, has separately been charged with seven offences – including sexual assault.
Last night, dozens of protesters gathered outside the hotel ahead of today’s decision.
Louis WoodProtester Sarah White outside The Bell hotel[/caption]
PAThe Bell Hotel has been surrounded by controversy after two of its guests were charged with sexual offences[/caption]
GettyDemonstrations have cost the force around £100,000[/caption]
GettyPink Ladies t-shirts read ‘the only way is Epping – send them home’[/caption]
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