ASYLUM seekers will begin to move into a Holiday Inn in Cheshire next week.

As reported last week, the hotel in Woolston, Warrington, will close to guests and be used by the Home Office to provide accommodation for asylum seekers.

It will be the third hotel in Warrington to be used by the Home Office following the Fir Grove in Grappenhall and The Paddington House, further along Manchester Road.

It will house more than 100 single male asylum seekers from May 10.

In a letter seen by the Standard's sister title the Warrington Guardian, council chief executive Steven Broomhead has written to the Home Office to protest against the move after a meeting held last week.

He added: "I find the approach the Home Office has taken to be dismissive and utterly lacking in collaboration and transparency with the council and partners; a complete contrast to the commitment made by the Rt Hon. Robert Jenrick, Minister for State and Immigration at the latter end of 2022.

"I am disappointed to inform you that I have had a further meeting this morning, April 27, with the Home Office and partners and despite again, my repeated requests that they reconsider the decision to activate this hotel there has been no agreement to do so. Concerns regarding escalating community tensions have been reiterated; Warrington has always been a welcoming and inclusive town; we have a proven, proud history that demonstrates this fact.

"However, since the coverage in the local media regarding the termination of the employment of staff at this hotel, elected members have made me aware of a request for a local meeting, including an indication from the parish council that there are several hundred dissatisfied residents wishing to attend such a meeting. This potential meeting was referenced this morning, both the Home Office and Serco were asked whether they would attend or provide a statement to justify the decision to activate this facility. "Their response was as expected, the Home Office does not comment on their policy to activate hotels and as such there would be no statement, or attendance, at any meeting. The council will be represented at the meeting should one be arranged by ward members or the parish council.

"The pressures that the expedited process of decision making at a Government level to process asylum claims will have on the homeless system at a local level have again been highlighted, where applications are successful. This position is acknowledged by the Home Office but this does not change or influence the intended course of action. The wider Government policy on the use of ships, vessels, ex-military camps to alleviate reliance on hotels was referenced; the timescales by which we can expect any reversal of decisions to activate hotels or decommissioning of existing facilities is less clear and not expected to be imminent.

"I remain completely dissatisfied at the approach the Home Office has taken in relation to this matter. I can confirm that the Council will only provide support in line with its statutory duties, but does not support the activation of this hotel and does not have the resources to provide any additional wrap around services."

The Warrington Guardian also approached the Home Office which also said it does not comment on commercial arrangements for individual sites used for asylum accommodation.

A spokesman did however say: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.

“We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6million a day.

“The Home Office is committed to making every effort to reduce hotel use and limit the burden on the taxpayer.”