Residents in Bromley have once again taken to the streets to oppose plans to house asylum seekers locally, saying they do not want migrants placed in their community.
A demonstration organised by the Great British National Protest group is being held outside the TLK Apartment Hotels in Orpington at 6pm tonight, marking the third such protest in the borough this year.
Protesters argue that their area is already under strain and that hotels should not be used to accommodate asylum seekers.
“We’ve had enough”
Local campaigners say the government has ignored their concerns. One organiser claimed:
“Bromley residents have been clear. We don’t want hotels in our town turned into migrant hostels. The government needs to listen to local people, not force these decisions on us.”
Counter-protests expected
Anti-racism groups have also announced they will stage a counter-demonstration in support of migrants, saying the far-right is spreading division.
The gatherings follow wider unrest across the UK as communities react to hotels being repurposed to house asylum seekers.
National context
A High Court ruling earlier this month instructed the government to stop housing asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel in Epping. That case has been cited by campaigners as evidence that local opposition can succeed.
In Bromley, organisers of tonight’s protest say they will continue to mobilise until the council and government provide assurances that hotels in the borough will not be used to accommodate asylum seekers.
