Llanelli

Owners of Stradey Park Hotel say they want to rehire staff and reopen hotel

Owners of Llanelli’s Stradey Park hotel have said they want to rehire staff and look to reopen the hotel after the Home Office scrapped controversial plans to house asylum seekers there.

Published

2 months ago

11th October 2023

Editor

Aerial view of Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli

The hotel owners issued a plea to protesters to remove obstacles from their encampment at the entrance to the hotel to allow work to start on restoring the business.

The Home Office made its announcement to withdraw its intentions to house asylum seekers at the hotel in a written confirmation to Carmarthenshire Council earlier this week.

The u-turn from the Home Office came as Police described an escalation in the protests against the plans, resulting in several arrests for criminal damage and attempted arson.

The fire service later declared the hotel as unsafe to house people, issuing a prohibition notice that prevents the premises from being used for sleeping accommodation.

Carmarthenshire Council said it will continue to work with Dyfed Powys Police and the hotel owners to ensure that the site of the Stradey Park Hotel is managed appropriately, for the good of the community of Furnace and Llanelli.

In a statement published to social media, Gryphon Leisure, owners of the Stradey Park Hotel said: “As reported this morning, we would like to let you know that the hotel will no longer be prepared to provide accommodation to asylum seekers. We are in the process of rehiring hotel staff members and plan to resume serving as a hotel to the community as soon as possible.

“We kindly request you remove any obstacles from the entrance as soon as possible to allow access for our employees, who will be working hard to restore the business.

“Thank you for your co-operation.”

A separate bid to ‘buy back’ Stradey Park Hotel by a new community group was set up just prior to the Home Office’s announcement.

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2 Comments

Mike Boss

12th October 2023 at 8:14 am

Personally I hope the staff don’t go back.. after the way they were treated by the owners, who were after a quick buck.. But i surely understand if you do but go for a good pay rise. don’t be put on again
.

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Joseph Evans

14th October 2023 at 4:23 pm

Personally the protestors were not wanted by the majority of the Llanelli people, hence the small numbers of people involved. A group set up by a bunch of racists though they claim they are not! Most belong to another FB group that gives links for making mace, advises the carrying of weapons, and advises you spray deep heat in the faces of men, women & children on sight “before they attack you”. The likes of Katie Hopkins involved, calling on Tony Robinson both racists. “Speak Loud, Llanelli Proud”, very very few are proud, but the whole lot are delusional thinking the video hits are because the world is impressed! It’s because Llanelli is now a laughing stock, geriatric Phil Watkins with his fake breathing difficulties posting shite, please share folks, please share folks. We’re not racist, yet videoing an ethnic individual for several minutes, look at his number plate folks, islamic number plate folks, get this number plate down folks. Majority of Llanelli were relieved when the police finally got their act together and started making arrests. Not even 9% of Llanelli turned out for the protest! I don’t see it ever returning to hotel status but believe it is being considered for Approved Premises status.

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