Uncertainty and anxiety loom on the outskirts of a Carmarthenshire town as the arrival of asylum seekers draws near, potentially starting early next month.
The Home Office and the hotel owner have provided little information regarding the proposed use of Stradey Park Hotel and Spa in Furnace, Llanelli, for this purpose.
Carmarthenshire County Council confirmed that, following repeated requests, they received written confirmation from the Home Office about the plan to accommodate 207 asylum seekers, comprising family groups, in 77 rooms at the hotel from July 3. The UK Government aims to reduce the daily cost of accommodating over 51,000 asylum seekers, which currently stands at £6 million.
A Furnace resident, who preferred not to be named, stated, “It’s a talking point wherever you go.”
No one interviewed by the Local Democracy Reporting Service supported housing a significant number of asylum seekers at Stradey Park Hotel. There is frustration due to the lack of information, anxiety about the number and duration of arrivals, but also sympathy for genuine cases facing difficult circumstances.
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home country due to persecution, war, or violence. They typically cannot work until their case has been decided and, if successful, they are granted refugee status.
Several events have taken place regarding the Stradey Park Hotel plan, including a well-attended public meeting, a separate gathering of churches, charities, political parties, and other groups, a protest, a counter-protest, media scrutiny, and the mysterious appearance of boulders outside the hotel.
It is understood that contractors may begin making alterations to the site as early as June 23, next Friday.
Janet Harries, a resident of Cwm Terrace across the main road from the hotel, believes that Furnace is an inappropriate location for accommodating a large number of asylum seekers. She expressed frustration at the lack of answers and said, “I am sorry for these people and the circumstances they are in. But we don’t know why they have come over.”
Mrs Harries decided to sell her house before the current controversy and has found a buyer who assured her they won’t withdraw. However, her father-in-law had a buyer who backed out due to the situation at Stradey Park Hotel.
Nia Morris, also from Cwm Terrace, shares the view that the location is unsuitable. She questioned whether it is humane to place such a large number of people in one place, even if they are families. She also expressed sadness that the hotel’s vibrant activity, such as Sunday dinners, parties, and weddings, might be lost.
Rumors abound, with some residents hearing that most of the individuals accommodated at the hotel will be men. Clive Hocking, from Lakeview Terrace, expressed bemusement at the term “of fighting age.” He raised concerns about outside groups with specific agendas being drawn to the area and remarked, “It’s the most excitement in this area for as long as I can remember, and for the wrong reasons.”
While Mr. Hocking believes it’s not appropriate to suddenly place people in a village with limited resources, he also acknowledged that First Minister Mark Drakeford has stated that the country is a place of sanctuary. He suggested considering how to provide assistance to individuals facing shocking situations.
His wife Linda expressed openness to accommodating asylum seekers in Llanelli but expressed uncertainty about using Stradey Park Hotel for this purpose. She worried about the impact of any negativity towards the asylum seekers on their well-being. Linda shared her own experience of leaving South Africa and feeling anxious about how people would perceive her when she first arrived in Ammanford, near Llanelli.
Another resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, also believed that other venues in Llanelli should accommodate a few asylum seekers at a time instead of concentrating them all at Stradey Park Hotel.
