Spelthorne raises urgent concerns over Home Office plans for Stanwell Hotel

In a letter to the Secretary of State, the Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, Cllr Joanne Sexton, raised serious concerns regarding the Home Office's intention to change the client group at the existing facility at Stanwell Hotel on Town Lane to provide only for male asylum seekers, contrary to previous discussions.

The Council had been informed that the site, previously managed by Clearsprings, would transition to accommodate families and single women only - a plan the Council had supported as appropriate and in-line with local community dynamics. However, it has since emerged that the current proposal involves relocating all women and families and replacing them with single adult males.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Joanne Sexton, said:

"This unexpected reversal has come as a shock and has caused significant concern within the local community. It appears that our input was disregarded, and there has been a complete lack of meaningful engagement and thorough consideration of public concerns and the impact on the local services.

"The current arrangements at the Stanwell Hotel were working. The families placed there were integrating well and building community ties. This abrupt change risks undermining all of that.

"I am alarmed about the potential consequences of the proposed changes and the impact they will have. Residents are very concerned and have begun contacting their local councillors for clarity, which they're unable to provide due to the lack of official briefing."

Cllr Sexton's letter formally rejects the current proposals and is calling for:

• An immediate pause to any changes that would alter the current occupancy arrangements at this facility
• A formal consultation meeting with the Secretary of State and Home Office representatives
• Full disclosure of plans and assurances regarding community safety, resourcing and long-term arrangements

Spelthorne has a history of supporting asylum seekers and refugees, including successfully managing an Afghan bridging hotel and assisting vulnerable households into settled accommodation. The Council emphasised that while it is committed to helping those in need, it expects to be properly consulted and involved in decisions that significantly impact the local area.

Spelthorne Borough Council is urging the Government to listen to the concerns of the local authority and community, and calls upon the Home Office to immediately reconsider and consult on the way forward.

To date we have not received a response from the Home Secretary and the urgency of the matter has led the Group Administration to call for an Extraordinary Council meeting on 7 August to discuss the matter further.