Speaking today in the House of Commons, Epping Forest MP Dr Neil Hudson appealed to the Government once again, calling for the Bell Hotel in Epping to be closed for use as asylum accommodation immediately.
Dr Hudson’s comments follow a series of deeply troubling incidents associated with the hotel in recent weeks, including alleged sexual and physical attacks, and an alleged arson attack.
Protests in Epping began as peaceful demonstrations by local residents, to express their concern with the impact of the Bell Hotel's use as an asylum hotel but unfortunately have on occasion escalated into violent confrontations including many people coming into Epping from outside the area. These have resulted in injuries to police officers and damage to police vehicles, with hundreds of protestors involved.
The previous Conservative Government closed the Bell Hotel for use as a hotel for asylum accommodation in April 2024, but it was reopened earlier this year by the Labour Government to accommodate asylum seekers, against all advice and without local consultation.
With his neighbouring Constituency MP, Alex Burghart MP (Member of Parliament for Brentwood and Ongar) Dr Hudson, along with Epping Forest District Council and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, have called on the Government to immediately close the Bell and Phoenix Hotels and make alternative arrangements accordingly. As the local MPs, they also requested an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary about this situation.
On 21st July, Dr Hudson spoke in the Chamber to call on the Government to close the Bell Hotel for the safety of local communities in the wake of events.
https://www.neilhudson.org.uk/news/today-chamber-epping-forest-mp-repeats-calls-closure-bell-hotel
Epping Forest District Council applied to the High Court for an interim injunction on the use of the Bell Hotel for asylum accommodation, which was initially granted on August 19th. However, the Home Office appealed that ruling and on August 29th the Court of Appeal overturned that injunction, meaning that the Bell Hotel can continue to be used for asylum accommodation.
Dr Hudson took today's opportunity in the Chamber to express his disappointment with the Labour Government’s actions regarding the injunction, and to again call for a ceasing of its use as an Asylum Hotel immediately.
In the Commons Chamber today Dr Hudson said:
“Home Secretary please, we have a tinderbox situation in Epping. We have the Bell Hotel with alleged sexual and physical assaults, and now twice weekly major protests, some of which became violent, with injuries to police officers.
Appallingly last week the Government successfully appealed against the Injunction on the hotel, prioritising the rights of illegal migrants over the rights and indeed safety of the people of Epping.
Our community, Mr Speaker, is in distress. The situation is untenable. This week the schools are back.
This Hotel is in the wrong place, right near a school and many concerned parents have contacted me.
When will the Home Secretary and the Government listen to us, address this issue, and do the right and safe thing and close the Bell Hotel immediately?”
Following his intervention, Dr Hudson commented:
"The Government’s approach to the Bell Hotel in appealing the interim injunction granted to Epping Forest District Council was tone deaf to the rights and concerns of Epping residents, who are deeply worried about safety in our community.
Today's response from the Home Secretary to me voicing my constituents’ concerns was deeply disappointing and quite simply not good enough. The Bell Hotel must be closed for use as asylum accommodation immediately and alternative means of provision for those awaiting asylum claims found, for the safety of our Epping community.
I will continue to do all I can to press the Home Secretary and the Government to do the right and safe thing and close the Bell Hotel immediately."
