Council decides against appealing High Court Stradey Park Hotel judgement

Carmarthenshire County Council has said that in light of the recent refusal of an interim injunction by the High Court, 7 July 2023, and having reviewed the outcomes from other cases, it will not be proceeding with the application for a permanent injunction. 

However, it adds that the refusal of the interim injunction does not authorise an unlawful planning use of the hotel and the Council will continue to monitor developments at the Stradey Park Hotel and consider all legal options that are available to the authority.   

Cllr. Darren Price, Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council said: “We have an indication of how the High Court has perceived our case and following the refusal of an interim injunction, combined with the rulings of other cases brought by local authorities, the Council has decided not to proceed further with this particular process.

“But we still strongly maintain that the Stradey Park Hotel is inappropriate to house such a large concentration of asylum seekers in one location, and we will continue to pursue other legal options that are available to us, including planning enforcement legislation.

“We believe that the UK Government’s approach is wrong and will continue to lobby for a change of approach to ensure the needs of the local community are taken into account. In terms of loss of jobs, the loss of a key tourism asset, cancellation of weddings and significant local tensions we again implore the UK Government to put a stop to this plan.

“I have stated on numerous occasions that the Council has fully supported and successfully delivered the dispersed model currently used to re-settle Syrian, Afghan, Ukrainian and general asylum seekers in recent years. The dispersed model of accommodation provision is more sustainable in offering a longer-term solution for asylum seekers, especially in a county such as Carmarthenshire.”

Meanwhile local MP, Nia Griffith has written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman calling on her to intervene in the plan to use the hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.

Writing on social media, Ms Griffiths said: “To make sure she gets it before summer recess, delivered letter yesterday to the Home Secretary at the Home Office, spelling out again why it is totally impractical to use the Stradey for asylum seekers, stressing our anger at the high-handed way that the home office have ridden roughshod over local residents and representatives, pointing out that we have welcomed refugees through properly planned dispersal schemes, and urging her to sort backlog of claims out, so no more hotels are needed.”

Nia Griffith’s Letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman