Government pushes ahead with asylum housing on former military sites despite local opposition

Anna Turley, a Home Office minister, reiterated the government's commitment to house asylum seekers on former military installations, emphasizing security and existing on-site amenities. She argued that such locations are more contained and lessen community impact compared with hotel accommodation, noting the recent closure of 13 hotels across England. Residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, where a plan for over 1,000 asylum seekers has been announced, have staged protests and organized a mock independence referendum to voice their concerns about infrastructure strain.

Mike Nixon, vice-chair of the parish council, expressed frustration over the absence of formal dialogue from officials, including Andy Burnham. Existing sites at RAF Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex are already operational, while proposals for former bases in Barnham, Suffolk, and RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire face local opposition.