MP wants to work on plan to move asylum seekers out of hotels, including Supreme Inn at Bicker Bar

An MP says he is looking forward to working with the Government to move asylum seekers out of a hotel at a local village site.

The Supreme Inn in Bicker Bar, near the A17/A52 roundabout, has housed more than 100 asylum seekers since August.

While coastal towns have raised the prospect of legal action against the Home Office in protest against this plan - but this has not been floated for the Supreme Inn.

MP for Boston and Skegness Matt Warman said: “I am glad that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary are in agreement with me that hotels are not the best place to house asylum seekers whilst they wait for a decision from the Home Office, whether those hotels are on the Skegness seafront or in rural Lincolnshire.

“I look forward to working with them regarding plans on moving asylum seekers out of hotels as quickly as possible.”

Private landlords are being approached to house asylum seekers, a report has confirmed.

The document due before Lincolnshire county councillors next week also shows that the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels in the county has regularly been close to the 500 person maximum occupancy in the last 12 months.

Seven hotels are currently being used to house asylum seekers in the county including five hotels in East Lindsey housing single, adult males – two on a temporary basis known as ‘spot booking’, one hotel in South Kesteven housing women, children, and family groups and one hotel in Boston Borough housing single, adult males.

Serco has been looking to lease properties from landlords, investors and agents, with those who give the company permission to sublet their properties being offered a five-year lease, no rental arrears, full repair and maintenance and more to sweeten the deal.

Asylum seekers are not permitted to work in the UK while their claim is being considered and if they are destitute, they are provided with free accommodation, as well as asylum support set at £40.85 a week.

There are currently over 100,000 asylum claims in backlog awaiting a Home Office decision.

Although LCC does not have a direct role in asylum dispersal, it has been liaising with Serco, the Home Office and the relevant district councils to assure themselves of the safety and coordination of services for new arrivals to hotels in the county.

*Additional reporting by Victoria Fear and Daniel Jaines (Local Democracy Reporter).