RESIDENTS of a quiet village have said they are desperate to escape after a migrant hotel turned their home into a “hell hole”.
The Manor Hotel in the Berkshire village of Datchet has been turned into a holding centre for asylum seekers since 2022.
AlamyThe once popular Manor Hotel in Datchet (pictured) near Windsor, Berkshire[/caption]
AlamyThe Manor Hotel owned by MG Hotels in the village of Datchet has been closed to the general public for years[/caption]
AlamyLocals have complained that no one even wants to buy their homes as they try and escape[/caption]
Datchet is a stone’s throw away from Windsor Castle, and King Charles is reportedly driven through the village most days.
Residents claim it’s been downhill ever since the hotel’s purpose was changed – with fears over anti-social behaviour and a village “spiralling out of control”.
Some locals have said they fear house prices will plummet as Datchet loses its charm.
And other homeowners have already put their houses on the market in a bid to escape.
Speaking to the MailOnline, one property owner said: “I put my house on the market, I’ve had enough. This has been such a nice village.
“It’s been safe and it’s been left to go to rack and ruin. It’s just becoming a hell-hole.”
Properties in Datchet are typically shifted for an average of £526,000.
However a few high-value homes worth as much as £3.5million are sitting on the market for longer than should be expected.
One furious resident, who’s been trying to shift his seven-bedroom house for six months without a single viewing, said: “This used to be a safe, lovely village. Now it’s gone to the dogs.
“Families don’t feel it’s safe for their kids anymore – five of them have already put their homes up for sale.”
The man claimed another homeowner can’t find a buyer for a sprawling £3.5million property which boastins a cinema, gym, and sitting just a short walk from Windsor.
One seven-bedroom property, listed at nearly £2million, has been on the market since last year with zero buyer interest, the site revealed.
The once-glamorous Manor Hotel, which used to attract football legends like George Best is now courting controversy rather than star power.
Other locals are refusing to rent out their properties, holding out hope for a sale that hasn’t come.
Estate agent Brian Warren said the controversy surrounding the hotel has had a chilling effect on the market, claiming that searches for the area bring up negative stories, which is putting people off.
“It’s definitely had an impact. It used to be a very desirable spot. Now, it’s a hard sell,” he told the Mail.
Locals have voiced concerns over crime and abuse, although police say no incidents have been officially linked to the migrant housing.
Several sellers told the Mail that the area has seen a rise in suspicious activity.
‘RACK AND RUIN’
This includes masked youths loitering, drug use, and people they say aren’t local wandering through the village at all hours.
However, one woman living across the road from the hotel said she hasn’t experienced any trouble.
But she did admit she believed the hotel was not the “right location to house asylum seekers” as it is right in the middle of the village.
Meanwhile, Gary Muir, 67, who used to be a councillor in the village, claimed that the hotel had simply “disrupted the area”.
The asylum seekers are banned from working under UK law – so have little else to fill their time save milling around on the village green.
Mr Muir added: “Nobody has done any particular harm but residents want the area back to the picturesque village it used to be. It really does affect the local community and the house prices around here.”
The Home Office has faced criticism for allegedly pushing ahead with plans without consulting the local council, with Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead officials previously claiming that their warnings were ignored.
However, the Manor Hotel is now one of nine hotels that the Home Office plans to empty by July.
This used to be a safe, lovely village. Now it’s gone to the dogs.”
One furious resident
And residents are expecting asylum seekers in the hotel to be removed from the property on May 29 after the Government’s contract with owners of MH hotels, reports the Mail.
Official stats from property portal Home.co.uk back up the villagers’ frustrations as houses in Datchet now take on average 133 days to sell, nearly three times longer than in the past.
One of the most eye-catching listings, Patrixbourne, a grand Victorian house dating back to the 1800s, has also failed to sell.
This is despite its historical charm and proximity to London trains and top schools.
Staff at local pub The Stag previously claimed that they have suffered a loss of customers following the hotel’s conversion into an asylum hostel.
One worker said: “When it was a proper hotel, it was used for weddings and parties so we used to get loads of guests coming over.”
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council declined to comment when contacted by The Sun.
The Home Office have been contacted by The Sun.
AlamyViews of Windsor Castle from Datchet[/caption]
Jon BondAn asylum seeker who lived at the hotel in 2022[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
