Lords reject refugee camp plan

The government says it will press on with its plans

Campaigners in Nottinghamshire have welcomed a government defeat in a vote on plans to build new asylum centres across the country.

The House of Lords voted on Wednesday night to reject the scheme which would see a centre at the former RAF Newton site

Opponents to the plan in the county say the rural location is unsuitable for the 750 people the centre would hold.

But the vote is unlikely to stop the government from going ahead with the project.

Anyone who undermines this legislation needs to bear in mind they are also undermining the agreement with France on the closure of Sangatte

Home Office

The Lords voted by 171 to 101 to oppose the the asylum centre plans.

Camapigner Helena Geary said: "These centres are not the right solution.

"Simply dumping these refugees in the middle of the country where there aren't the facilities to cope with them will not help anyone."

But the government has already declared it will not allow the House of Lords to derail the centres, which form a central part of its policy on asylum seekers.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Anyone who undermines this legislation needs to bear in mind they are also undermining the agreement with France on the closure of Sangatte".