Government plans to house single male asylum seekers at Park Hotel in Diss appear to be in tatters after rebellion by locals

Government plans to house single male asylum seekers in a Norfolk hotel appear to be in tatters after a rebellion by locals.

The controversial move by the Home Office, details of which emerged last week, sought to replace asylum-seeking families who have been living at the Park Hotel in Diss for the last two years.

But the announcement resulted in outrage and protests in the street, with local councillors working behind the scenes to scupper the proposals before anyone is moved in or out of the hotel.

As a result, it seems the bid is already in tatters, after the hotel revealed it would close rather than allow the government to move the men in.

Daniel Elmer, leader of South Norfolk Council, will meet with Home Office officials today (Friday, July 25) and urge them to “formally withdraw” the bid once and for all.

The Park Hotel, on Denmark Street, close to the Mere and the town centre, has been used for asylum seeker families, including women and children, since 2023.

The Home Office had told South Norfolk Council that it would be removing them and replacing them with men from Monday (July 21) this week.

But the hotel said it wanted to remain as a home for migrant families and if not able to do so would close its doors.

It also clarified that the single men had not yet arrived at the hotel and that the families remained there.

Graham Minshull, deputy leader of South Norfolk Council, said the owner of the hotel was “prepared to take a significant loss” if forced to “break the contract” it holds with the government.

The council is meeting with the Home Office today in the hopes it will “officially reverse” the decision made last week.

A spokesman for the authority said the decision had come “out of the blue” and would have meant moving 80 residents, including 34 adults and 46 children, out of the hotel.

Mr Elmer said: “I’m incredibly disappointed in the lack of engagement from the Home Office to date, the lack of clarity that has been provided over planned removal dates and destinations for existing residents, and the failure to formally withdraw the proposal.

“The rationale for the original decision still seems very unclear.”

The Home Office said it would not comment on the decision, which has already caused widespread alarm in the town.

At a demonstration on Monday, people with banners that said “stop the boats” faced off with counter protestors, who held placards saying “refugees welcome” and “stop the far right”.

The statement issued by the Park Hotel on Wednesday (July 23) has led some demonstrators to call off another planned protest over the weekend, on Sunday (July 27).

However, tensions in the region remain high with protestors planning to demonstrate outside another Norfolk hotel housing asylum seekers.

An event is planned for Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, Norwich, on the afternoon of Saturday (July 26), with prominent far-right activist Tommy Robinson encouraging his supporters to attend.

A spokeswoman for Norfolk Police said: “We are aware of planned protests at the weekend and are closely monitoring the situation, as well as working in coordination with national policing colleagues and local partners.

“The right to protest is a key part of our democracy and there have been several similar events at hotels in Norfolk in recent years, which have passed off peacefully. Officers will be out and about with the intention to facilitate peaceful protest and ensure the safety of everyone involved.”

Mike Sands, Labour councillor for Bowthorpe, said he wanted to “encourage people not to counter-protest” at the demonstrations and “let the police deal with it”.

In Essex, similar protests have turned violent, with police making 10 arrests following a series of demonstrations outside an asylum hotel in Epping.