The Bell Hotel

The Home Office has temporarily placed asylum seekers at The Bell Hotel in Epping during the pandemic. Without the full facts, many unfounded rumours have since circulated on social media, and many residents have been unnecessarily alarmed. Asylum Seekers are a Home Office responsibility. The outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic disrupted normal Home Office processing arrangements. It needed to find some additional temporary accommodation.

Mobile: 07885 871508 Hotels temporarily closed to normal business due to the Coronavirus are an obvious soluwww.nmonkplumbingandheating.co.uk tion. Using Housing Associations, the Home Office has booked various hotels across the UK to accommodate the temporary delay. The Bell Hotel is a private business and this is an emergency Government action taken during then pandemic. Epping Forest District Council were informed rather than consulted. The Home Office notified the local council in advance of this hotel being used for this purpose. Their Housing service was informed as a matter of courtesy by Clearsprings Housing Association and they have a point of contact to flag any concerns or issues. The Home Office and councils work together closely on issues around the housing of asylum seekers. Government spending ultimately comes out of the tax payers’ pocket, but none of the costs for The Bell are being paid for locally by Epping Forest District Council or local taxation. All the costs are being met by the Home Office from national government funds. All of those staying at the Bell Hotel are asylum seekers. Asylum seekers have often fled conflict and persecution in their home countries. The UK has a statutory duty to provide support for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their claim is being

Some people have asked Epping Forest District Council if the people temporarily housed at the Bell will be getting local council houses. The council have confirmed that this is ‘almost certainly not’ the case. All UK councils share the task of helping to accommodate asylum seekers. The current temporary arrangement at The Bell has no bearing on where people may eventually live. The Council also confirmed that their housing allocation policy puts local people first. You have to have been a resident of Epping Forest district for at least the previous 7 years before we will put you on our housing waiting list. Epping Forest District Council reported that Essex Police has confirmed there has been no increase in local crime, or crime associated with people staying at The Bell which is something that local residents were concerned about.

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