Suffolk County Council supports communities in fight against use of RAF Barnham to house asylum seekers

The leader of Suffolk County Council has today committed the authority to supporting communities in and around Barnham from the Home Office’s proposal to use the former RAF site near the village to house asylum seekers.

Councillor Michael Hadwen, said:

“I categorically object to the use of RAF Barnham to house illegal migrants.

“Following my urgent briefing with the Home Office, nothing they said lessened my enormous concerns about the impact of 1250 men moving into such a small village with a small rural primary school. The site will be open for people to come and go as they please and is being promoted by Government as a long term or even permanent part of the Home Office’s illegal migrant accommodation plans. This is entirely unacceptable.

“There has been no prior warning or consultation with us or local communities. Nothing. Instead, we learn about it shortly before the media is told. This doesn’t show Suffolk the respect it deserves and we demand.“My next steps are clear. We’re going to support the community in Barnham, including the school, the parish council, and local councillors, to demonstrate why this is the wrong place for mass illegal migrant accommodation. We’re going to continue making this case to the Home Office until it abandons the idea altogether.

“Suffolk’s communities must come first, and the county council will protect them.”