ANGRY locals fear a bid to convert a former hotel into a huge HMO is a “sneaky plan” to accommodate asylum seekers there.
A property company has applied for planning permission to create one of the largest Houses in Multiple Occupancy in the UK — with 122 bedrooms.
But residents and officials in Hull are concerned migrants will be stashed there in an attempt to quell public fury over the use of hotels.
The Portland Hotel — a swanky four-star attraction when it opened in the 1960s — now sits empty.
The proposals for change of use into an HMO — usually bedsit-type accommodation for at least three people with shared facilities such as kitchen and bathroom — were lodged by London-based firm Knight Wood.
The Sun understands neither the Home Office nor its contractor in the region plan to use it for asylum seekers if the HMO plan goes ahead.
But locals fear that could change in the future with thousands already housed in HMOs around the UK.
The Government has pledged to end use of migrant hotels by 2029 but needs to find alternatives for the 32,000 currently living in them.
Hull resident Kath Williams, 56, said: “This is a sneaky plan by the Government to solve the immigrants in hotels situation by simply changing them into HMOs. It is wrong.”
Retired publican Gordon Moody, 73, added: “Moving those people from hotels to HMOs is not solving the problem, it is creating a new one.”
Councillors, the local Labour MP Emma Hardy and Humberside Police have all objected to the plans amid fears it will bring an increase in crime to the area.
One resident said: “The city is run down, people are agitated, HMOs are known to bring heightened crime.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the situation was “clearly worrying” to locals and authorities.
A decision by Hull Council’s planning committee has been deferred until next month “to allow the applicant further opportunity to address the crime issue”. Knight Wood was contacted for comment.
The Home Office said they had no plans to use the site as accommodation.
A spokesperson said: “Over the past year, we have cut nearly £1billion in hotel spending .
“As we work towards our aim to close all asylum hotels by the end of this parliament, we continue working with local authorities to ensure balanced and sustainable accommodation.”
GoogleThe Portland Hotel was a swanky four-star attraction when it opened in the 1960s but it now sits empty[/caption]
SEX RAP FOR BAILED REFUGEE
By Alex West
AN asylum seeker is accused of a sex assault while on bail for threatening violence at a migrant hotel.
Afghan Javed Orykhel, 22, had already admitted making threats at the Winford Manor Hotel in Winford, Bristol.
He has now appeared before Cardiff magistrates accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the city.
He denied that offence via video link from jail.
A bail request on the grounds he had a place at another migrant hotel was refused. JPs said he could not be trusted.
He will be tried for sexual assault at the same court on October 22.
The hotel previously featured in a viral video by ex-Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who poked his head over its wall and asked: “Hello, is this an illegal migrant place?”
WOMAN DIES IN DINGHY
RESCUED migrants arrive by boat yesterday after a woman died when a dinghy collapsed mid-Channel.
The victim was airlifted to shore after the small boat she was on suffered a “catastrophic deflation” about ten miles off the British coast.
Gary StoneRescued migrants arrive by boat after a woman died when a dinghy collapsed mid-Channel[/caption]
Gary StoneMore than 500 migrants crossed from France yesterday[/caption]
She was given CPR but was later confirmed dead.
A Border Force vessel and two lifeboats were sent out.
More than 500 migrants crossed from France yesterday.
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