A statement from the leader of North Yorkshire Council, Cllr Carl Les
It’s important to be clear from the outset that we do not object to the government’s desire to house asylum seekers with dignity in safe and secure accommodation. However, we agree with many of the points made, and the concerns expressed by residents in the hundreds of correspondences we have received already, and we do not believe that Linton–on–Ouse is an appropriate location to house potentially 1,200 single adult males. We share the views of many leading voices in our region that this plan by the Home Office is flawed, that the site is completely inappropriate and that it was found to be so following a thorough investigation only a few years ago. The deterioration of the site only makes the issues raised at that time more relevant.
How it was announced
On behalf of our residents, businesses, partner organisations and, of course, ourselves as the authority responsible for supplying many of your key services, we were seriously disappointed that a media announcement was made by the Home Office before we were notified. This information was released to press the evening before we were informed under an embargo which did not prevent details being published. This was very unhelpful, is not good practice and did not support a coordinated understanding or response to very sensitive information. We have been clear on our position on this with the department.
The Home Office has now published a list of frequently asked questions on the government website.
Our current understanding
We are now having meetings with Home Office officials who have confirmed that while government is ‘minded to’ progress this plan, no decision has yet been made. The Home Office will now begin a period of ‘due diligence’ on their plan, and we will seek to influence that consideration. We are informed that any decision will be made by the end of this year. It should be noted at this point that if they decide to proceed we understand their plan will require planning permission, but it is unlikely this will be for North Yorkshire Council to determine.
Why we believe Linton-on-Ouse is the wrong place
It is the duty of myself, and other publicly elected representatives, to speak and act in the interests and wellbeing of the communities we serve.
In this instance, there has been strong and consistent opposition from the local community, and wider area, to the proposed use of Linton-on-Ouse for such a large number of single male asylum seekers. Those concerns are grounded in the fundamental unsuitability of the location for a development of this scale and nature.
Linton-on-Ouse is a small, rural village with extremely limited infrastructure and services. There are no appropriate facilities in the immediate vicinity to support a cohort of this size in terms of healthcare, transport connectivity, community integration opportunities or access to essential day-to-day services.
It is also reasonable to make the point that this plan will create extra financial burden, which is currently unfunded, on the police force and wider agencies providing services. The proposal would place significant and unsustainable pressure on local provision, while also risking the wellbeing of those accommodated at the site, who would be placed in an isolated setting lacking the support networks they require.
In short, this is the wrong proposal in the wrong location evidenced by the fact the site has been considered and rejected previously on the basis that it is not suitable.
What we have done so far
I have written to the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, the Deputy Mayor responsible for policing and the Leader of City of York Council, asking for an urgent meeting to discuss the concerns of the residents of Linton-on-Ouse and to agree a joint position in support of them. As a council, we have retained legal counsel to advise on options as we progress.
On behalf of all those raising concerns here we will press government to reconsider this decision, engage meaningfully with us, with the aim that the Home Office come up with a more suitable solution.
We will continue to work with the local parish council, local elected member Cllr Malcolm Taylor and local MP, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, as well as other regional leaders and will update this page and respond individually to as many of your concerns as possible.
I am grateful for your patience as we try and manage the large volumes of correspondence we are receiving so that we can properly understand and try to get answers to the many issues you are raising with us about this Home Office plan.
Cllr Carl Les, Leader of North Yorkshire Council
How to get in touch with the Home Office
You can contact the Home Office using the Direct Communication Unit enquiry form on the government website.
Or by writing to Direct Communications Unit, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.