Harborough MP launches petition against plan to house asylum seekers at properties in Kibworth and Great Glen
Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has launched a petition against what he describes as a ‘crazy’ Government plan to house asylum seekers in Kibworth and Great Glen.
Mr O’Brien said he started the petition after hearing that Government contractor Serco was looking for accommodation in the two Harborough district villages to house around 14 people.
The MP described the villages as ‘totally inappropriate’ places to house asylum seekers, and said he was seeking an urgent meeting with Serco to understand more details about the plans, such as specific locations, the number of individuals who may be accommodated or the proposed timescale.
“Kibworth and Great Glen are rural villages with predominantly family populations,” Mr O’Brien said.
“They are not suitable for what is likely to be young single men. They are far removed from other asylum seekers in Leicester, and other urban areas, where they can be more easily monitored.
“Asylum seekers can’t work, so they have nothing to do all day. Placing them in areas where there are limited facilities, and fewer things to do, doesn’t make sense at all.
“I have demanded an urgent meeting with Serco to get answers to these questions.
“I am also calling on the council to use its existing planning powers - particularly around Houses of Multiple Occupancy - to prevent any asylum accommodation being set up locally.
“In the meantime, I encourage all residents in Kibworth and Great Glen to sign the petition to say no to this crazy proposal.”
A Serco spokesperson said: “We work under the direction of the Home Office and engage with the relevant local authority on each property we plan to use before we procure it.
"The local authority is given an opportunity to provide a view on whether an address is suitable.”
A Harborough District Council spokesperson said: “Serco has been appointed by the government to find suitable properties in all local authority areas across the whole country as part of the government’s Asylum Seeker Dispersal Programme.
“The council is notified by Serco of potential properties and can respond within a very short timescale, based on limited criteria relating to serious anti-social behaviour or criminality in a location, which generally does not apply in the Harborough district area.
“At this time, as far as we are aware, no properties are in use by Serco in any ward area in Harborough district. Under Home Office guidance, the council will not be disclosing the exact locations of any properties.”
Cllr Phil Knowles, leader of Harborough District Council, said: “This is a national policy implemented from within Westminster, over which the council has extremely limited input.
"Those sitting in Westminster are best placed to comment directly to ministers, rather than suggesting to residents that our council can influence this policy.
“What we can do, for the health and safety and benefit of occupants and local residents, is to ensure that any property brought forward by Serco, irrespective of location, meets all the required licences and planning permissions.”
The petition, which has attracted 849 signatures at the time of writing, can be viewed on Mr O’Brien’s website.
To find out more about asylum seekers visit https://www.unhcr.org/uk/about-unhcr/who-we-protect/asylum-seekers