Recently, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has ordered the closure of hotels currently housing asylum seekers, with a plan to relocate individuals into flats and houses across the country by converting them into Houses of Multiple Occupancy.
This decision raises understandable concerns for local communities. As the Member of Parliament, I have not been consulted on these plans, and it appears that neither have local residents nor their elected representatives at parish, borough, or county level.
The approach has been developed at pace, with limited clarity around its potential local impact. Without proper planning and consultation, there is a risk of unintended consequences for both existing residents and those being rehoused.
I have written to both Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TMBC) to seek urgent clarification on whether they have been asked to accommodate asylum seekers under this scheme, how many individuals may be involved, which locations—if any—have been identified, and the extent to which local authorities have been consulted.
I will provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available and will continue to keep residents informed via my website and social media channels.
Please use the following link to read my letter in full: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=982134967486857&id=100070…
