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Immigration minister Robert Jenrick today formally announced that MDP Wethersfield, which was used by the RAF in World War 2, will be one of three sites to be used to house asylum seekers.<\/p>\n
Tony Clarke-Holland, a senior member of the Fields Association, the local residents\u2019 group fighting the asylum seeker centre, told the Express that the Home Office is using de facto \u201cnational crisis powers\u201d to overrule local leaders\u2019 right to scrutinise any application to develop the Wethersfield site.<\/p>\n
He said that local politicians have been told by the Home Office that the department \u201cdoesn\u2019t need to consult with the local authority to make this happen\u201d.<\/p>\n
The local parish council were told about the Home Office\u2019s decision to use the site to house asylum seekers out of \u201ccourtesy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Both the Fields Association and Braintree District Council are taking legal action against the Home Office for overriding local politicians\u2019 right to oversee planning applications.<\/p>\n
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Braintree District Council said: \u201cWe are aware of the Home Office\u2019s plans and we are taking appropriate legal action to challenge them as to the powers they intend to use in terms of planning and building control.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regarding their own legal action, the Fields Association said: \u201cInitial legal advice has been sought and we are in dialogue about the action to be taken with Braintree District Council as the local planning authority responsible. We are gathering evidence so that we are ready as and when we need to take legal action.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Mr Jenrick told the Commons: “Today the Government is announcing the first tranche of sites we will set up to provide basic accommodation at scale.<\/p>\n
“The Government will use military sites being disposed of in Essex and Lincolnshire, and a separate site in East Sussex.<\/p>\n
“These will be scaled up over the coming months and will collectively provide accommodation to several thousand asylum seekers through repurposed barrack blocks and portacabins.”<\/p>\n
Braintree council has told local MPs: “We have now applied to the High Court for an interim injunction. This injunction challenges the Home Office proposals to place asylum seekers at Wethersfield Airfield.<\/p>\n
“We would expect such an application would be heard within seven days, and we expect the matter to be heard by the High Court before any asylum seekers are occupied on site. We will provide further updates as we know more.”<\/p>\n
The Home Office has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n