County and District Councillor Liam Walker has welcomed confirmation that the Oxford Witney Hotel will no longer be used to house asylum seekers, describing the move as "welcome news" for local residents while urging the Government to address the wider pressures facing communities.
The Home Office has announced that the hotel has ceased operating as asylum accommodation as part of its plans to reduce the use of hotels across the country. Ministers say asylum seekers will instead be accommodated in a mixture of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), former military barracks and other sites, including plans to use Ministry of Defence accommodation in Bicester. The Government says reducing hotel use will save taxpayers millions of pounds and forms part of its commitment to end the widespread use of hotels for asylum accommodation.
Cllr Liam Walker said: "I welcome the news that the Oxford Witney Hotel will no longer be used to accommodate asylum seekers. This arrangement was never intended to be permanent, and many local residents have consistently raised concerns about the impact on the local community and the lack of consultation. However, simply moving people from hotels into HMOs or former military sites does not solve the underlying problems. The asylum system remains too slow, too expensive and places continued pressure on local communities."
"The Government must now focus on speeding up decisions, removing those who have no right to remain in the UK, and ensuring local people are properly consulted before new accommodation sites are identified. Communities across Oxfordshire have done their bit and deserve transparency, fairness and confidence that the system is being managed effectively.
"Ultimately, we need an asylum system that is firm, fair and works for those who genuinely need protection, while also protecting taxpayers and local public services."
Cllr Walker said the closure of the hotel should be seen as a positive step, but stressed that success would ultimately depend on whether the Government can reduce the asylum backlog, strengthen border security and avoid simply transferring pressures from one community to another. He added that local authorities and residents must be kept informed of any future proposals affecting Oxfordshire.
