Leominster MP’s asylum seeker ‘strong concerns’

Leominster “lacks the infrastructure” to cope with an influx of asylum seekers, North Herefordshire Conservative MP Sir Bill Wiggin has said.

This follows the news yesterday that the Home Office has earmarked the disused Talbot Hotel in the town for “contingency accommodation” for asylum seekers.

“I have spoken to the minister for immigration and the council to voice my strong concerns,” Sir Bill said.

“I am not confident that Leominster has the infrastructure or the sort of accommodation that we would need and expect for housing asylum seekers.

It does not have the social service provision and quality of infrastructure that can be found in larger cities.”

He added: “Whatever you feel about these people, we need to make sure that the Home Office do not make matters worse in our communities.”

But he said he has been told by the Home Office that the use of the Talbot in this way has yet to be given the official go-ahead.