Emotional end to protest march by campaigners against Stradey Park Hotel asylum seeker proposals

Sunday’s march from Town Hall Square to the hotel saw more than 100 people, many carrying banners, stage a peaceful and orderly march through Llanelli. The campaigners are angry at Home Office plans to house 241 asylum seekers at the hotel.

At the steps of the Stradey Park Hotel the protestors asked for staff members to come out to receive a two-minute round of applause.

Many were in tears as they received the praise of campaigners.

“It was a hugely emotional end to the march,” said Steve Williams, a member of the Furnace Action Committee.

“The workers at the hotel are quite shockingly being kept in the dark by owners Sterling Woodrow (Gryphon Leisure Ltd).

“They have been told to cancel all bookings after July 7 and not to take any new bookings or events from July 7.

“But they have yet to receive any news about what’s happening to their jobs.

“This is a disgusting attitude by their employers, who now seem hellbent on destroying a four-star hotel, a going concern which is one of the jewels in our tourism industry, all in the name of money and greed.

“And that is what this is all about. Forget all the political nonsense that gets bandied about. This plan to house asylum seekers at the Stradey Park Hotel is all about money and greed.

“We certainly don’t think it is in the best interests of the asylum seekers, who will be poorly served by a plan which is going ahead without any public consultation, with zero reference to our already under pressure public services and with no regard for health and safety whatsoever.”

The end of Sunday’s march also heard a speech by the Plaid Cymru leader of Carmarthenshire Council, Darren Price, in which he lambasted the Tory Government for seeking to force through the plan.

Cllr Price said Carmarthenshire Council already had a successful model for dispersing asylum seekers throughout the country. The proposal to house 241 asylum seekers in 77 rooms (more than three to a room) was deeply flawed, he said.

Representatives of Sterling Woodrow and Clearsprings, who will manage the planned asylum seekers site, are expected to visit the hotel this week.

Action Committee spokesman Robert Lloyd added: “We knew from just over five weeks ago that we faced a difficult fight. We knew this was a ‘done-deal’ – a plan hatched behind closed doors in the Home Office and one they tried to keep secret for a month.

“Knowing we faced an uphill battle as campaigners has not discouraged us. We will fight on and escalate protests as we get closer to the Home Office’s scrapping of the town’s cherished four-star hotel.”

(Lead image: Graham Harries)