Asylum court inquiry adjourned

The inquiry into the proposed hearing centre has been adjourned

A public inquiry into a proposed £3m asylum appeals court at Newport has been adjourned after the sudden death of the father of one of the barristers.

The lawyer representing the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA), Rhodri Price Lewis's father died on Wednesday morning.

A date for the inquiry to resume has been set for 28 October.

However, depending on the caseloads of the barristers representing the IAA, Newport Council and residents group, the Langstone Action Group, the hearing may not restart until 20 January 2004.

A site visit of Columbus House was carried out by the planning inspector leading the inquiry, John Davies, on Wednesday morning before resuming for about 30 minutes in the afternoon to explain that the inquiry was being adjourned.

Mr Price Lewis's father has passed away

Mr Davies passed on his sympathies to Mr Price Lewis and his family before suspending the inquiry.

The Welsh assembly inquiry is considering plans by the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA), to use Columbus House, in the Langstone area of the city, as a hearing centre for asylum seekers appealing Home Office decisions.

Up to 160 appeal hearings a week by asylum seekers would be held at the centre if it were to get the go-ahead.

But the immigration authority has faced strong opposition to the plans from city residents, and Newport council's planning committee has already rejected the proposals.

The inquiry is being held after the IAA appealed against the council's ruling.