Plans to house 70 asylum seekers in a Welsh village have caused outrage among locals, with police officers being called to keep watch and patrol Rhosllanerchrugog, near Wrexham.
A packed public meeting explained the details, which had so many attendees that the event had to be held outdoors.
A medical centre was proposed to house the migrants. However, many believe the location should be used to relieve the NHS.
Locals are also worried if the plans do go ahead, it could house the single men whose backgrounds people know nothing about, leaving them feeling worried in their own homes.
The proposition is part of the Government’s pilot scheme to move asylum seekers from hotels and private landlords to new or refurbished properties following anger over the multi-billion-pound accommodation bill.
Protests erupted earlier this month in Crowborough, Sussex, with 1,000 residents taking to the streets to protest against plans to house hundreds of migrants.
A hand-made banner was hung on a fence in the Welsh village, which read: “Keep our kids safe”.
Eric Evans, 85, who was at the protest, told the Daily Mail: “I’m glad so many people turned up.
A hand-made banner read ‘keep our kids safe’
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Police officers were called into the area
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“It’s completely out of order and should never have been suggested.
“It’s the wrong place. The building should be used for something else, help the hospital, ease bed-blocking. It’s a safety fear mainly.”
Mother-of-one Kate Hughes said she is “not happy” about the plans.
“Unfortunately, we live directly opposite, we would be overlooking the facility. I wouldn’t feel safe in my own home,” she said.
Hundreds of local arrived at the protest
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She continued: “Our people are struggling, the NHS is in crisis, and a facility like that would be amazing to have as a rehabilitation unit. I’m absolutely opposed.”
The heaving meeting in Rhosllanerchrugog was scheduled to take place at Hafod Colliery Club.
The village has a population of about 10,000, with Wexham councillor Paul Pemberton calling for the asylum seekers to go elsewhere.
He said: “They have to go somewhere, but this is the wrong place. The public response has been 99 per cent opposed to it. People are more than deeply worried. Nobody knows who would come.”
The village has a population of about 10,000
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Wrexham council said in a statement: “The Home Office proposals are for 35 units for families of up to two people per unit. We are planning to submit a response objecting to the proposal.
“The council has been consulted by the Home Office in relation to the property on two previous occasions, and both times has strongly opposed the proposed use.”
However, Wrexham’s Labour MP Andrew Ranger said the plans were led by private asylum accommodation provider Clearsprings Ready Homes.
He said: “While Plas yn Rhos is located just outside my Wrexham constituency, I recognise that its potential impact, particularly on our local GP surgeries, schools, and infrastructure, will be felt deeply by my constituents.
“Any change of use for the building will require formal scrutiny, and this remains the proper channel for local concerns regarding the suitability of the site and the pressure on public services to be addressed.”
GB News contacted Clearsprings Ready Homes and the Home Office for comment.