45m ago
15.41 BST
Leader of
Epping Forest council calls for calm after court of appeal ruling
The
leader of Epping Forest district council has called for calm after the court of
appeal ruled asylum seekers can stay at the Bell hotel in Essex.
Councillor
Chris Whitbread told Times Radio:
I call
for calm. There’s been peaceful protests and there’s been non peaceful protests
outside the hotel.
He added:
We saw
yesterday the government say that asylum seekers have more rights than my
residents. I’m really cross with this ruling. Obviously we’ll now reflect on
where we are.
Obviously
we’re still going to court in October to go for a final injunction and we will
be pushing hard to make sure that’s successful, but we will do everything we
can still.
This
is an awful position for the town … I’m really concerned for the future of the
town at the moment.
Speaking
outside the London court after the ruling, Ken Williamson, member of cabinet
for Epping Forest district council said:
We
understand government faces a dilemma, but that should not be at the expense of
local communities.
Planning
law may seem dull, it might seem boring, but it goes to the heart of the
relationship between local communities and good government. It enshrines the
rights of local people to have a say within their own communities, and it
should not be set aside lightly. The government can still listen.
It needs
to understand and take responsibility for the events that have taken place in
Epping over the past six weeks, for the trauma and disruption brought upon our
community.
The
council could still be granted an injunction after a full hearing of the legal
claim, which is due to be heard in October.
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