Earnley residents ‘terrified’ by asylum seeker plans

People living in the Earnley area have voiced strong concerns over plans to house asylum seekers in the village.
The Home Office is considering using Earnley Concourse to temporarily house up to 200 asylum seekersThe Home Office is considering using Earnley Concourse to temporarily house up to 200 asylum seekers
The Home Office is considering using Earnley Concourse to temporarily house up to 200 asylum seekers

However some have welcomed the plans, calling it ‘good news for the Chichester area’.

It comes after the Observer exclusively revealed proposals to turn Earnley Concourse into a hostel for up to 200 foreign nationals while their applications for housing are being processed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It has now been revealed the 200 would all be men aged between 18 and late 30s, of mixed origin who are currently located in Calais.

The plans, revealed on the Observer website on Friday, are subject to planning approvalThe plans, revealed on the Observer website on Friday, are subject to planning approval
The plans, revealed on the Observer website on Friday, are subject to planning approval

The Home Office is looking to use the Concourse initially for six months ‘but this could be extended’, Earnley Parish Council has said.

“This news has left the villagers of Earnley terrified,” said one woman, who grew up in the village and whose parents live near the Concourse and asked not to be named.

“I walk with my mum and two young children in the village weekly. It has a population of less than 400 across three hamlets.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It has no street lights, no pavements, no transport links, no shops, no police station. And they want to leave us with 200 male asylum seekers with nothing to do.

The Home Office is said to want to use the site for six months initiallyThe Home Office is said to want to use the site for six months initially
The Home Office is said to want to use the site for six months initially

“I feel sick. Just one poorly screened individual and I am walking alone in a tiny village with two young children.

“I feel so vulnerable, my parents and the rest of the village are terrified.”

The asylum seekers would be security cleared so Earnley Concourse ‘would not be a detention centre’, the parish council has said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bracklesham Bay resident Graham Bray added: “This is a totally inappropriate location for this purpose and must be rejected completely.

“This would ruin the ambience of this lovely village.”

As revealed on the Observer website on Friday, it is a Home Office project independent of either Chichester District Council or West Sussex County Council.

A change of use planning application has been submitted for Earnley Concourse to use it as a hostel, on behalf of Clearsprings Ready Homes by Stone Harbour Ltd, which manages the site on behalf of its trustees.

The Concourse has remained empty since December 2011 and members of Earnley Parish Council met with the directors of Stone Harbour Ltd in October to discuss future plans for its use.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They were told there were short term plans to recreate Earnley Place, a listed building, and the Gate House to hold events like weddings.

“However, there is now a possibility that subject to planning approval the Concourse could be used as a short term hostel for asylum seekers consisting of 200 males aged between 18 and late 30s of mixed origin currently located in Calais,” a statement posted on the parish council website on Saturday read.

“They will stay at the Concourse between three and 19 days whilst their applications are assessed, they will have already cleared security and therefore it is not a detention centre.

“The Home Office has stated that they are looking to use the site for six months but this could be extended.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.chichester.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ChichesterObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @Chiobserver

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Chichester Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics: