The Epping Forest District Council in England’s Essex County unanimously passed a motion on Thursday urging the UK government to immediately and permanently close the Bell Hotel, which is currently being used to house asylum seekers.
The council called upon local members of parliament (MPs) to support its initiative, and a public petition has been launched to trigger a parliamentary debate in the House of Commons. To do so, the petition must reach over 100,000 signatures. Currently, 90,306 signatures have been recorded.
Councillor Holly Whitbread urged residents and councillors to “[u]se democratic means” to demand the government shut down the hotel, asking individuals to “responsibly express their objections in a democratic, constructive, and peaceful way.” Whitbread stated:
Enough is enough. The government has ignored us for too long. The Bell Hotel was reopened without any consultation – not with this council, not with our local MP, and certainly not with the community we represent. As our community reaches boiling point, the government continues to ignore our calls to close the hotel, this is not only unacceptable, but deeply irresponsible.
This type of council motion is legally non-binding because it serves as a political expression rather than an enforceable decision. Under Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory obligation to support asylum seekers who are destitute or likely to become destitute, including by providing accommodation “in such a place as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.”
As a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the UK is obliged to provide basic rights such as access to housing and food under Article 21. Additionally, failure to provide adequate shelter, food, or basic care may breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment and is incorporated into UK law through the Human Rights Act 1998.
Protests outside the Bell Hotel began on July 8 and have continued amid growing public concern. One of the asylum seekers, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, had been staying at the hotel when he was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Although he denied the charge when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, the protests come amid a wider debate over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
According to the Essex Police’s latest reports, there were incidents of exploiting peaceful protests to launch assaults on officers, cause criminal damage, or commit disorder. Despite efforts to facilitate lawful protest, a total of nine individuals have been charged and are due to appear in court.
The council previously reaffirmed its long-standing opposition to the Bell Hotel being used for asylum housing. It had warned the Home Office that the lack of proper infrastructure and support was putting pressure on local services and raising serious concerns among residents.
Other councils across England, such as Stoke-on-Trent, have passed similar motions opposing the use of hotels for asylum accommodation. Nonetheless, such motions have had no legal impact. According to a 2023 report from the National Audit Office, hotels are used as emergency housing for asylum seekers as of early 2023 due to a record backlog in processing asylum claims and insufficient housing capacity.
