The Government has reportedly “put a halt” on moving asylum seekers into a row of newbuild houses in the remote Shropshire village of Stoke Heath.
Asylum seeking parents in their new home on the street (Image: SWNS)
Government plans to house 83 asylum seekers on a road locals have dubbed ‘Migrant Street’ have been put on hold following a dramatic U-turn.
Residents of the remote Shropshire village of Stoke Heath voiced outrage at the prospect of asylum seekers being housed in a row of £250,000 newly-built homes in Dutton Close.
The proposal came as the Government moves to phase out migrant hotels by 2029, with plans to relocate people into “properties and ex-military sites”.
Villagers in Stoke Heath were told that 21 new homes would be used to accommodate between 83 and 121 asylum seekers.
The road — branded Migrant Street by locals — had originally been earmarked for social housing before Home Office contractor Serco assumed control of it.
Reaction to the initial plans has been fierce (Image: SWNS)
Residents argued the village was far too isolated for asylum seekers, with the nearest shop being four miles away and the closest bus stop a 30-minute walk.
Following the fierce backlash in Stoke Heath, the Government reportedly “put a halt” on relocating asylum seekers to Dutton Close.
The reversal came just minutes before residents gathered for a meeting with Tory MP Mark Pritchard, who had previously described the village as “completely inappropriate” for the scheme.
More than 100 residents — permitted entry only with photo ID — packed into Stoke-on-Tern Parish Hall on Thursday (2/7) evening.
Afterwards, Mr Pritchard said: “It was a well attended meeting.
“I thought the meeting raised important, legitimate questions and it was done in a respectful and moderate way.
“It is disappointing that Serco, who were invited but didn’t attend, Shropshire Council were invited, they didn’t attend.
“The Home Office were invited and they failed to send a representative.
“I felt it was important to continue to have this community meeting so I could reflect the concerns of the local residents.
“The update I have is good news.
“On the way to the meeting this evening I received a call from a very senior Home Office official that said they are putting a halt, which is what I was calling for, on any further asylum seekers going into Dutton Close.
“The ones already there have been relocated to another location.
“The big story is that there is now going to be a review of the whole scheme.
“How long will the review take? I don’t know. Who will be the final decision maker?”.
“I suspect it will be the Home Secretary, who in the last few hours as you all know has said that asylum seekers should not be in new build accommodation such as we have in Stoke Heath.
The new build estate is still under construction (Image: SWNS)
“If that is the government’s policy, then they should announce very quickly, to end the uncertainty and fear in the community.”
Local resident Tonia Roberts expressed optimism that the newly built properties would be allocated for social housing purposes.
She said: “We’re just hoping we’ll get a good result. It’s given us some hope I think, whereas before we didn’t have hope.
“It’s not an appropriate place to have these asylum seekers. There’s nothing there. We just cannot facilitate them, quite frankly.
“The family that were there have moved out. I think they felt a bit nervous about being there on their own.
Inside one of the houses (Image: undefined)
“It’s still going to be weeks and weeks before we know, but it does give us a little bit more confidence that things will be going in the right way.”
Fellow Dutton Close resident Kevin Plews added: “I’m very pleased that it’s going to be under review.
“I asked the question whether it was a Home Office smoke and mirrors thing and if they’re looking to put them on the Tern Hill Barracks site and try and make out it’s a less intrusive proposition. So we’ll have to see.
“We are very disappointed in Shropshire Council. They seem to be keeping their cards very close to their chests.
“They are not very forthcoming with information on what they know and what they’re going to do.
Roads are still being paved (Image: SWNS)
“They are trying to keep us in the dark. I think they know more that they’re making out.”
Neighbour John Getty was far less upbeat about what he had heard.
“No corks are popping yet,” he said.
“I think it’s still going to happen. The Government lie every day. We’ve just got to keep fighting it. It’s all we can do.”
A family who had been residing in one of the properties prior to being relocated had previously spoken of their desperation to leave following incidents of abuse.
A row of houses in Stoke Heath (Image: SWNS)
Muhammad Nadeem, his wife Shamaila, and their four children fled their native Pakistan two years ago and settled in the UK.
Muhammad, 40, said: “This is no good for us this place. It’s too rural. I have diabetes and back pain.
“We now have security guards outside but we don’t feel safe. We don’t want to be here.
“It is not suitable for us, it is too far for jobs, shops and schools.”
The Home Office have been approached for comment.
