Asylum seeker centre plan rejected

Plans for an induction centre for asylum seekers in Ipswich have been rejected.

Ipswich councillors, who voted against the plan, claim any centre would increase pressure on council housing.

The Home Office had asked Ipswich Borough Council to consider the East of England Asylum Consortium's plans for the centre, which would have accommodated around 100 people at a time.

A total of about 2,500 asylum seekers a year would be housed in the single centre.

Rejection 'wrong'

Consortium chairman Robin Rennie said they were disappointed and believed the borough council had been wrong to reject the idea.

He said there was no evidence to suggest the centre would increase demand for council homes.

The consortium had hoped Ipswich Borough Council would take a leading role in establishing the centre, with Suffolk County Council and the consortium as partners.

It anticipated that asylum seekers would have been dispersed after staying at the centre for a week to a fortnight.

More involvement

The consortium did not expect the centre to increase any pressure on the borough council's budget.

The consortium was established in November 1999 to develop the government's dispersal programme and help with the integration of asylum seekers.

Its role is to develop effective networks between organisations and provide good communication with central government.

It also aims to promote more involvement of asylum seekers and refugees in the provision of accommodation and other services.