MORE councils are now trying to block migrants from hotels in their local area after being spurred on by the landmark Epping victory.
The ruling from High Court judge Mr Justice Eyre will force the owners of The Bell Hotel in Epping to remove migrants from the site before September 12.
Police officers stand outside the The Bell HotelAFP
Jubilant protesters gather outside the Bell hotel following the court victory
Protests had erupted outside the hotel after one of its guests was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girlReuters
Activists were seen celebrating after the court ruling yesterday
Epping Forest District Council had launched the punchy legal challenge after protests erupted outside The Bell Hotel in recent weeks.
Public anger grew after a migrant living at the hotel was charged with sexual assault.
Now, a Mr Justice Eyre has ruled that the hotel might have breached planning rules by housing migrants at their site in Essex, rather than paying customers.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told The Sun that the court’s ruling yesterday throws Labour’s asylum policy into “chaos”.
Now, other local authorities appear to be following the example of the small Essex council.
The Borough of Broxbourne Council in Hertfordshire said it would take legal advice as a “matter of urgency” on whether it could undertake similar action.
The local authority is seeking to remove migrants from The Delta Marriott Hotel in Cheshunt, saying it had opposed their placement in the hotel “from the outset”.
At the time, the council was advised that action to prevent asylum seekers being housed in the hotel was unlikely to be successful.
But now, spurred on by the success seen in Epping, the council plans to take legal advice ahead of taking action to remove migrants from the hotel.
Corina Gander, Tory leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, said the Epping verdict had “given us this massive boost and precedent that we can do something now”.
She will be writing to the Home Office in the wake of the High Court ruling today to seek an assurance that no asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping will be moved to Cheshunt.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also indicated the 12 councils where Reform UK was the largest party would consider legal challenges following Tuesday’s ruling.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Farage said the local authorities would do “everything in their power to follow Epping’s lead”.
He added: “The good people of Epping must inspire similar protests around Britain.
“Wherever people are concerned about the threat posed by young undocumented males living in local hotels and who are free to walk their streets, they should follow the example of the town in Essex.”
The High Court judgement explained
HIGH Court Judge Mr Justice Eyre has ruled that the owners of The Bell Hotel – Somani Hotels Limited – might have breached planning rules by housing migrants at the site, rather than paying customers.
After a hearing in London’s High Court last week, Mr Justice Eyre said Somani Hotels Limited had “sidestepped the public scrutiny and explanation” by not applying for planning permission for the migrant hotel.
In his judgement, he said that while the council had not “definitively established” that Somani Hotels had breached planning rules, “the strength of the claimant’s case is such that it weighs in favour” of granting the injunction.
He said the fear of crime being committed by those accommodated there was a “relevant factor”, albeit one with “limited weight”.
In his judgement, he said it is “understandable” that recent arrests “form a basis for the local concern”.
He added: “The arrests have occurred in a relatively short period and have arisen when no more than 138 asylum seekers are accommodated in the Bell at any time.
“The consequence is that the fear said to be felt by local residents cannot be dismissed as solely speculation based on fear of what might happen from an activity which has not yet begun.”
The judge also said that had the hotel owners, Somani Hotels Limited, applied for planning permission, it would have given Epping Forest District Council and local residents a chance to air their concerns.
Philip Coppel KC, for the authority, said the situation was “wholly unacceptable” and provided a “feeding ground for unrest”.
He said: “There has been what can be described as an increase in community tension, the catalyst of which has been the use of the Bell Hotel to place asylum seekers.”
Mr Coppel continued: “It is not the asylum seekers who are acting unlawfully. It is the defendant, by allowing the hotel to be used to house asylum seekers.”
He added: “It really could not be much worse than this.”
The judge granted a temporary injunction in his ruling, meaning the hotel has to be cleared of its occupants by September 12.
Ahead of yesterday’s court ruling, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper attempted to make an 11th hour attempt to get the case dismissed – but was refused by the judge.
A lawyer acting for the Home Office had warned the decision to remove migrants would “substantially impact” its ability to house asylum seekers in hotels across the UK.
Edward Brown KC claimed it “runs the risk of acting as an impetus for further violent protests”.
Border Security Minister Angela Eagle said they would “carefully consider” the judgment.
She said: “This Government inherited a broken asylum system, at the peak there were over 400 hotels open. We will continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns. Our work continues to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.
“We will carefully consider this judgment. As this matter remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Following the ruling, Leader of Epping Forest District Council Chris Whitbread hailed the temporary ban as an important victory for councils across the country.
Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, the Tory councillor said: “This is a decision that’s important to Epping Forest, but also important to have councils up and down the country, and it shows that the Government cannot ignore planning rules, just like no-one else can ignore planning rules.”
He continued: “One of the great things about Epping Forest, and one of the things I want to get back to, is Epping Forest is a great district and a great community, and there is so much that we can be proud of.”
He added: “This is only the start of a process and subject to appeal, we recognise that, but all things being equal, the Bell Hotel will be empty by September 12, and that’s really important for the students, residents, businesses of Epping Forest.
“What we do have to be aware of, we have a responsibility now, and in recent weeks, we have seen the protests that started off quite violently become peaceful protests, run by the people of Epping Forest.
“What I call upon the residents tonight is if they decide to go outside the Bell Hotel, don’t protest, don’t over-celebrate. This is the beginning. It is not the end.
“We have a lot of work to do, and we will do everything we can, as I promised the full council, we will leave no stone unturned to work in the interest of Epping Forest.
“The Government have to address the bigger issue of the illegal asylum problem, but in Epping Forest, we will stand up for our residents and we will do our best on their behalf.”
Not all councils, however, are pursuing the same path as Epping Forest.
The leader of South Norfolk District Council, which covers the town of Diss where a hotel housing asylum seekers has also been the subject of protests, said the council would not go down the same route.
Conservative leader Daniel Elmer said the council was using planning rules to try to ensure it was families being housed in the area rather than single adult males.
He said to do so, which would effectively convert the hotels into hostels, should require a change of use.
Two men were arrested and charged in connection with a protest in July outside the hotel in Diss, which houses more than 40 children.
Cllr Elmer said: “We make a big play about integration, and to replace families who have children in the local school system and have integrated into the local community would make no sense.”
He added: “If we can punish people who have put up sheds in their gardens without permission, then we can take action against hotels being converted into hostels without planning consent.”
Protesters were seen rejoicing outside The Bell Hotel in Essex today following the landmark ruling booting migrants out of the site.
They were seen popping bottles of champagne, spraying the drink in the air and waving Union Jacks.
Families partying outside the Epping hotel told The Sun the ruling will set a precedent for the other hotels across the UK.
The ruling today was welcomed by Reform leader Nigel Farage, who said: “This is a victory for the parents and concerned residents of Epping. They do not want their young women being assaulted on the streets.
“This community stood up bravely, despite being slandered as far right, and have won. They represent the vast majority of decent people in this country.
“Young, undocumented males who break into the UK illegally should NOT be free to walk the streets anywhere. They must be detained and deported.
“I hope that Epping provides inspiration to others across the country.”
Chris Whitbread, the leader of Epping Forest District Council, speaks to the media outside the High Court Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
