Dame Caroline Dinenage, the Member of Parliament for Gosport, recently held a meeting with the newly appointed Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson KC MP. The primary agenda of their discussion revolved around the ongoing renovation and reopening of the Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) at Haslar.
This critical initiative has seen significant developments since its inception. The IRC, which had remained closed since 2016, was slated for revival in 2024 as a secure facility to accommodate foreign national offenders. The project’s progress has faced challenges, particularly delays attributed to asbestos removal.
Dame Caroline Dinenage personally visited the IRC in December, where she witnessed the extensive redevelopment and refurbishment efforts at the site. Subsequently, she corresponded with the new Minister to request a meeting to provide an update on the project’s background and discuss the status of construction works.
One of Dame Caroline’s top priorities throughout the endeavour has been to ensure that local residents are well-informed about the latest developments at the Haslar site. To this end, she has organized opportunities for the public to interact with Home Office staff and contractors involved in the project. The most recent event, held in January 2023, attracted an impressive turnout of over 200 participants.
Dame Caroline Dinenage has been a long-standing advocate for finding a productive purpose for the Haslar site, either through its sale or repurposing to stimulate employment opportunities and economic growth in the area.
Following her meeting with Minister Tomlinson, Dame Caroline expressed her gratitude for his commitment to keeping the local community informed about the IRC Haslar project. She acknowledged that while she, like many residents, would prefer an alternative use for the site, the prolonged neglect of the location at public expense had become untenable. She looked forward to the site’s planned reopening later in the year, which is expected to generate around 200 jobs for the region, benefiting the local community and economy.
