PLANS to accomodate asylum seekers at a Flintshire hotel have been met with fury from residents, councillors and an MP. 

The Leader reported on Thursday that a pre-application consultation has been launched regarding the proposals for the Northop Country House Hotel. 

The hotel, which is also known as Chequers, could become temporary accommodation for 400 single male asylum seekers. 

Payman 3 Holdings Ltd intends to apply for the use of the hotel and installation of modular accommodation for a temporary period of up to seven years.

And the plans have been met with a severe backlash from residents living nearby. 

Rob Roberts, MP for Delyn, said: "I must stress at this point that it is nothing at all to do with the Home Office, which simply assesses accommodation offers when they come in, which need to be complete with planning permissions and local authority approvals.

"Let’s be very clear here. A large number of the people we are talking about are extremely vulnerable and are fleeing desperate situations in various parts of the world. Some, however, are not. But we shouldn’t get caught up in personalities or talking about the people themselves. There is no need for things to turn into scenes we have seen elsewhere in the country.

"But regardless of their personal circumstances, Northop Hall is wholly unsuitable for a place like this. There are virtually no public transport services. One small shop, one pub, no capacity in schools, no capacity in GPs, no capacity in Dentists. No capacity in local A&E and other health services."

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He continued: "The village is a mix of young families and elderly communities. I grew up there and have lived there for half of my life. I played cricket and hockey there. I got married in St Mary’s Church.

"Increasing the population of a village like this by about 35 per cent, and with predominantly males, is simply not a viable plan.

"I am in constant contact with Home Office officials regarding the re-housing of asylum seekers in general and this site in particular and I have spoken with the Immigration Minister directly to voice our deep concerns. I’m also in contact with Flintshire Council officers, as are Linda Thew and Marion Bateman the two county councillors for the village as well as the local police inspectors."

"I will do all I can to stop this from proceeding."

Northop county councillors Marion Bateman and Linda Thew issued a joint statement on the matter. 

They said: "The scale of this development is excessive, the proposals would totally overwhelm our village, we have some 1,100 adults in the village at present, our population will therefore increase by approximately 50 per cent. This proposal would have a significant and unacceptable impact on the wellbeing, safety, and amenity of the residents. How can it possibly be sustainable to accommodate this excessive number of additional people?

"The village has no amenities other than a shop and a pub and nothing else. No doctor’s surgery, no dentist and virtually no public transport. There is no immediate access to public transport at either location. The routes leading out of the village to access other amenities is classified by Flintshire County Council as hazardous for pedestrians. Not knowing the age range of these people, on arrival many may need to access education, as was the case [in] Dolgarrog. Our local schools are already at capacity."

The councillors said Flintshire Council is a very low funded local authority ranking 20th out of the 22 Welsh authorities per capita funding. 

Councillors Bateman and Thew added: "We have a lack of doctors and dentists with residents waiting weeks to get an appointment and years, in some cases, for operations. The residents of Flintshire are already feeling the pain of budgetary constraints which is going to get worse for at least the next three years as forecasts from Welsh Government are for more efficiencies after years of austerity.

"Since austerity, budgets and staffing posts have been hugely cut back and any extra budgetary demands would be untenable. 

"There are concerns that our local Betsi Cadwaldr Health Board (BCUHB) would not have the capacity to cope with this additional huge influx of people, the possible health conditions that they may bring to the area and the pre-existing health problems which will need attention. On Monday, February 27, we had news BCUHB is being put back in Special Measures. This is proof BCHUB will be even less likely to be able to cope with the proposed facility. These added pressures will compound unrest within our community, and we are fearful of the consequences."

The councillors and Rob Roberts MP are urging people to take part in the consultation. To share your views, please email info@northopia.co.uk.