Petition opposes 'refugee hotel'

Campaigners took their petition to Downing Street

Protesters campaigning against plans for an asylum induction centre in a hotel have taken a petition to Downing Street.

The petition, with more than 7,000 signatures, has been compiled in the weeks since plans for the Coniston Hotel in Sittingbourne became public.

The plans were put on hold when it was decided proper public consultation had not be carried out.

Members of the Sittingbourne Action Committee in Kent (Sack) were joined by local MP Derek Wyatt when they handed the petition to Downing Street on Wednesday morning.

Legal action

The scheme to use the Coniston Hotel to house more than 100 asylum seekers was greeted with anger from many Sittingbourne residents when it was revealed in January.

Terry Brennand: "We are not against immigration."

Swale Borough Council has started legal action to oppose the planned new use of the hotel on the grounds it would breach planning laws.

Resident Terry Brennand, 65, said: We need our hotel to run our town and we are hopeful that the government will reconsider their plans.

"We have one hotel in a town of 40,000 people and we need it. Everyone has come forward and signed our petition.

"We only want our town to prosper, we are definitely not against immigration."

The campaigners and Mr Wyatt are due to meet immigration minister Beverley Hughes at the Commons during the afternoon.

A second public meeting organised by the council, to discuss the proposals, is due to take place in Sittingbourne's Wyvern Hall on Thursday night.