The Dragonfly Hotel in Peterborough will be accommodating 146 asylum seekers, a decision that has received criticism from two Labour MPs, Andrew Pakes and Sam Carling. They expressed their disappointment with the government’s choice to house asylum seekers at a lakeside hotel, deeming it inappropriate.
Located in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough, the hotel borders Nene Park and is situated next to the city’s rowing lake. Peterborough City Council’s Labour leader, Dennis Jones, mentioned that the council is already accommodating more asylum seekers than its fair share compared to other areas in England. The council has purchased 40 homes for refugees since the beginning of 2023, and Jones emphasized that the hotel’s location has limited access to necessary amenities and services.
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Home Office stated that there is a significant backlog of asylum claims, with thousands of individuals waiting for their cases to be processed. The Home Office is working on a major uplift to remove individuals who do not have the right to stay in the UK and aims to reduce the use of hotels for asylum seekers.
The number of asylum applications in the UK has been gradually increasing since 2010, with a more significant rise since 2020. The Dragonfly Hotel, managed by the Surya group, has been contacted by the BBC for comments on the situation.
It is essential to address the concerns raised by local officials and MPs regarding the accommodation of asylum seekers in Peterborough. Proper coordination and planning are crucial to ensure that resources are not overstrained and that asylum seekers receive adequate support and services during their stay. The government must work towards finding suitable accommodation options that minimize the use of hotels and provide a more sustainable solution for asylum seekers in need.