The High Court’s decision for The Bell Hotel in Epping to continue housing asylum seekers has been branded “shocking” and a “let down” to locals.
Speaking to GB News, Reform UK Branch Secretary for Epping Forest Karen McIvor said the community feels they are “banging their head against a brick wall” in getting the hotel closed down.
Following their latest legal battle against the High Court, Essex Council has lost its bid for an injunction to block asylum seekers being housed in the hotel.
Mr Justice Mould dismissed the claim on Tuesday and said in a judgment that it is “not a case in which it is just and convenient for this court to grant an injunction”.
Reform UK’s Branch Secretary for Epping Karen McIvor hit out at the ‘shocking’ court ruling on The Bell Hotel
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GB NEWS / PA
Delivering her verdict on the ruling, Ms McIvor told GB News: “It is so so shocking, my heart goes out to the families as always, the wonderful people of Epping, the wonderful community in Epping.
“We have been peacefully protesting since July and and it’s just like banging your head against a brick wall.”
Criticising the Government for not supporting the Epping community, she added: “The Government, they had an opportunity here to show that they’re listening to their people and that they’re in touch. Instead, they’re not supporting us, they don’t care about us, that’s how it feels.
“We’re just let down again, and it’s really worrying. People in the community are worried. What’s next? It’s just shocking.”
Stressing that the location of the asylum hotel is “wrong on every level”, Ms McIvor explained: “I just don’t understand the logic. It’s wrong on every level.
“It’s next to a school, which is why we’ve been peacefully protesting the trouble all over the country with these hotels. But this particular hotel is next to a school, and for some reason, that doesn’t seem to matter.”
The Labour Government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament, but the vow has dismissed by Ms McIvor.
She stated: “I think they have an opportunity here to act and show that they are listening and close this hotel, let the rest of the country see that they are listening and they are looking to have a plan and make things better for everybody across the country.
Ms McIvor told GB News that the protests ‘will not stop until the hotel is closed’
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GB NEWS
“They could have just used us as an example, but they haven’t. Because you know what? They don’t have a plan and these people just keep coming. Epping has been like a beacon for the rest of the country, we’ve only conducted ourselves with pure dignity, and we’ve been peacefully protesting week in, week out. And it’s just wrong that that doesn’t matter, it’s wrong.”
Declaring that the locals will most likely “continue their protest” against the hotel, Ms McIvor concluded: “Let me tell you, they will continue to protest, the protest won’t stop. We have to have that hotel closed.
“I imagine there will be other opportunities to maybe try to further appeal, but we won’t give up. We will continue to protest until that hotel is closed. It is wrong. It is next to a secondary school, and God forbid anything else happens, I’m so concerned.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels in this country.
“This Government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway to move asylum seekers into more suitable accommodation such as military bases, to ease pressure on communities across the country.
“We are working to do so as swiftly as possible as part of an orderly, planned and sustained programme. This judgment allows us to do that.”