COLCHESTER'S council leader has said other areas must "take their fair share" of asylum seekers amid fears of the impact on "already over stretched" services.

David King, leader of Colchester Council, said Colchester is "proud to be a place of sanctuary" but he admitted to being worried about the volume of asylum-seekers the Government is currently sending to the city.

The Liberal Democrat, angered by the Home Office’s handling of the situation, fears more arrivals will put further pressure on Colchester’s “already stretched” services.

His concerns come after the Gazette revealed how more than 100 asylum-seeking men are now staying at The Holiday Inn Express, in Langham.

Gazette:

Mr King said: “Colchester is proud to be a place of sanctuary - we have a long history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to our city-to-be.

“But I am angry at the Home Office's failings and we face new arrivals when others do not, when many of our partner authorities are not called upon to do their bit.

“We understand the pressures of the asylum system and that they use hotels as a short-term solution; but we get no advance warning from the Home Office.

“We should, and need to, get adequate time for planning to make sure the much-needed wrap-around support is in place for these families.”

According to Mr King, Colchester is already supporting the highest number of Ukrainian refugees and the largest number of refugee families in Essex.  

The city is also said to have the highest number of asylum seekers in dispersed accommodation – such as hotels - in the entire region.

READ MORE: Hotel off the A12 being used to 'provide accommodation to asylum-seekers'

“We will do our best to provide the support to those who will be housed in Colchester, for their wellbeing, safety and security, he added.

“I also ask they provide long term support and recognise the pressures created for Colchester and help spread the challenge, so that other districts take their fair share.

“It is not enough to admit the Home Office's handling is not fit for purpose. They must fix their failings and come to asylum decisions faster.

“In the interim, [they should also] make it easier for refugees to work in the UK, so they can earn and find their way, not languish in hotels.” 

Home Office bosses have now responded, saying the asylum system is under unprecedented pressures due record numbers of people arriving in the UK.

A spokesman said: “The Government is working with all local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland to provide more suitable accommodation for asylum seekers and to end the unacceptable use of hotels, with more than £21 million in grant funding already been provided to local authorities to help them respond to challenges in their area.”