An MP has spoken out after coming under fire for falling silent in the wake of opposition to plans to house single male asylum seekers in a hotel.
Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley, previously criticised ‘out-of-towners’ for creating ‘fear and division’ during a demonstration outside the Park Hotel in Diss, which is currently home to asylum-seeking families.
Despite rising tensions in the area, Diss residents had expressed frustration that their MP had not provided them with any updates about the situation.
The Park Hotel in Diss is to be redesignated for single male asylum seekers
Mr Ramsay has now issued a statement after he was contacted by his constituents about the recent issues relating to the Park Hotel.
He said: “I am keeping in close and frequent contact with residents, local groups, and the authorities.
“This is a sensitive situation and one where the right thing to do has been to focus on working behind the scenes with the Home Office, South Norfolk Council, local police, community groups and residents to seek clear, accurate information and to help ease tensions in our community.
Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley. Picture. Parliament
“I continue to be concerned for the welfare of the asylum seeker families who have been in Diss for some time and have been welcomed into our community and I will continue to press for them to be treated fairly.“
“I have spoken directly with many constituents to hear their questions and to ensure they have the latest verified facts.”
The Park Hotel, in Denmark Street, has been used for asylum-seeking families since 2023.
The Park Hotel
The Home Office told South Norfolk Council in July that it would be removing them and replacing them with men, but the hotel said it wanted to remain as a home for migrant families and if not able to do so, would close.
Mr Ramsay said: “Responses from the Home Office have at times been slow or unclear and we currently have a situation where it is unclear what the future plans for the hotel are.
“I will continue to press for timely communication so that we can avoid speculation and so South Norfolk Council and the many community groups who have been supporting the asylum seekers living in our community can continue to do so.“
“Although some local media coverage has not reflected the full picture, my focus remains on supporting our community and ensuring the wellbeing of all residents of Diss, both long term residents and people seeking sanctuary in our town.
Mr Ramsay added that he had written to the Minister to call for a dedicated MP hotline to improve coordination between local authorities, elected representatives and the Home Office.
At the end of last week, the Home Office revealed it intends to push ahead with its plans to house single male asylum seekers in the hotel.
The controversial plans, details of which emerged last month, seek 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 and the bid was thrown into chaos when the hotel said it would close rather than allow the government to move the men in.
Despite this, the Home Office wrote to South Norfolk Council last week to confirm it intended to proceed with the plans.
The council, which has been pushing for the bid to be withdrawn, maintains it ‘will not accept’ the change of use and is using planning enforcement powers in an attempt to shut down the move.
South Norfolk Council has agreed to issue a planning enforcement notice that will require the hotel owner to submit a planning application to regularise the change of use of the building from a hotel to asylum accommodation.
When dealing with the planning application, the council will have the ability to specify that the use of the hotel is limited to accommodating families seeking asylum only.
If this fails and the Home Office continues with its plans to replace the families, the council has pledged to serve a temporary stop notice on the hotel owner, which would require the halting of any action believed to violate planning regulations.
The breach of a stop notice is a criminal offence.
The Home Office decision has caused widespread alarm in the town and there were demonstrations outside the hotel last month.