Grantham asylum seeker hotel under safety review

A council has confirmed it is working with a Grantham Hotel to ensure asylum seekers being housed there are safe.

Stoke Rochford Hotel, in Grantham, cancelled a number of weddings in September after the Government extended its contract to take in additional Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.

Local Democracy Reporters understand, however, that concerns around the hotel were raised during a recent routine inspection by South Kesteven District Council.

Asked about the reports, SKDC, confirmed they were working with hotel management to ensure the hotel was fit for purpose.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “The responsibility for enforcing workplace Health and Safety in hotels lies with district councils.

“The hotel has been stood up for the purposes of asylum and we are working with the operators to ensure the premises meets all required standards for this purpose.”

It is believed that British Forces from Afghanistan and refugees are staying at the hotel. | Photo: R S Mortiss

A spokesperson for the Home Office said the number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation had reached “record levels” and put the asylum system under “incredible strain”.

They said that where concerns were raised they also work with the provider to ensure concerns are addressed.

The spokesperson said: “The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.

“Where concerns are raised about any aspect of the service delivered in a hotel we work with the provider to ensure these concerns are addressed, while asylum seekers have access to 24/7 helpline to raise any concerns they have and are able to make formal complaints which will always be followed up.”

The Home Office says it has been working to ensure arrangements are safe for both hotel residents and local people, aiming to “leave no-one destitute” by ensuring accommodation meets individual needs.

Stoke Rochford Hotel in Grantham. | Photo: R S Mortiss

The government’s use of hotels are meant to be a short-term solution to the global migration crisis while ministers and staff work to find appropriate dispersed accommodation for migrants, asylum seekers and Afghan refugees as soon as possible.

“We would urge local authorities to do all they can to help house people permanently,” said the spokesperson.

Nationally, the total hotel cost is £6.8 million each day. The cost of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels is £5.6 million a day.

The cost of accommodating Afghans in bridging hotels is £1.2 million a day.

Stoke Rochford Hotel has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

MyLocal Lincolnshire is the new home of The Lincolnite. Download the app now.