Protesters gathered outside a former hotel over claims that it could be used as accommodation for asylum seekers.
More than 100 people turned up for a planned peaceful protest, organised by Unite the Right UK, at The Bridge Hotel in Sutton Bridge today (Sunday, May 31).
Lincolnshire Police intervened when protesters – including one on a mobility scooter – blocked the exit of a works van leaving the building shouting ‘traitors’ and ‘shame on you’. No arrests are believed to have been made.
More than k100 protesters showed up. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
The protest was sparked after South Holland District Council raised concerns that the hotel, now Waterford Apartments, could be used by the Home Office for asylum accommodation.
API Investments – who have converted the eyesore into flats after investing over £1.5million into the site – have categorically stated that it will not be let to the Home Office nor any public body for asylum seeker accommodation.
Steve Dand, of Untie the Right UK, organised the protest after stating that he had been approached by Sutton Bridge residents over the issue.
Crowd grew larger as the protest started. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
He said: “Residents don’t want it here.
“They feel let down.
“This is what community looks like.”
Lincolnshire Police intervened during protest. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
A protester draped in a Union Flag used his mobility scooter to block the exit of two sub-contactors and a van which had been working in the building to cheers from the crowd.
Police officers formed a line in front of the van before organisers encouraged protesters to move. The workers were seen to leave the van and left on foot.
Mr Dand said: “It is such a nice little town.
“I was hoping a developer would come here today but they haven’t.
Man draped in Union Jack flag blocks exit of sub-contractors who had been working in the former hotel. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
“Why are they not here defending this, they are hiding.”
Mr Dand took to the mic as more people gathered in front of the hotel and has stated that he intends to come to the public meeting at the Curlew Centre on Friday, June 5, which has been organised by Sir John Hayes, MP for South Holland and The Deepings.
He said: “I will be gathering as much information as I can about the developers and Property Panda Lettings.
Flags were brought to the protest. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
“I will ask if they have other properties that have asylum seekers.
“If they stay silent it proves it.”
Lincolnshire Police intervened during protest. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
The shell of the old hotel has spoiled the gateway to Lincolnshire for years, situated next to the river Nene and the bridge separating the county from Norfolk.
Residents hoped the building would get a new lease of life after being purchased by developers Jamie Sandford and Rob Bridgewater, of API Investments in May 2024 who have invested £1.5 million to transform the grot spot into flats.
Mr Dand added: “We will get the ball rolling today for the community to have their say.
“The council are on their side which is good and every week it is about putting pressure on the government.
There was a police presence at the protest. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
“We have proved before that we can show them that we don’t want it here.”
Two people have vowed to protest weekly every Sunday morning at 11am in order to ‘make enough noise before they come and we can stop them.”
One lady, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “We will meet here once a week and wave the flag.”
Villagers at the protest. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
API Investments have stated that ‘it is not our intention to let this building to the Home Office or any government or local authority body’.
Mr Dand told the crowd that it is Serco – whose services span justice, migration, defence, space, customer services, health, and transport – who ‘developers would go to’ and not the Home Office.
One protester spoke on the mic to say that ‘out government doesn’t actually care’ and urged the crowd to ‘really think about voting for somebody else.’
Sub contractors were unable to exit. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
She mentioned that her son had been a sniper in the army and has been on the housing list for ten years and can’t get a council house.
Veteran Terry, 82, who served with the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and served in Kenya supported the protester’s views.
He said: “I agree with what the people are saying here today.
“I think it would be good for young people to have a chance at those flats.”
Simon Moon and Hayley Griffin from Unite the Right UK also spoke to the gathered crowd.
Simon Moon from Unite the Right UK. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
Mr Moon, from Swineshead, said: “We can talk to people about what has happened in our area.
“Do we really need this on top of everything else?
“Where is the infrastructure and services to support it?”
Karen Confor at the protest. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
One protester added: “For me it is the expense to the taxpayer, the frustration of them coming and the money spent on illegal immigrants.
Gloria Alford, who lives in Tydd St Mary and was born in Sutton Bridge, came along to show her support.
Simon Moon., Steve Dand, Hayley Griffin. PHOTO: Iliffe Media
She said: “I want to show my support for the people of the village.
“I feel for the children growing up here.”
Karen Canfor from Terrington St Clemens is ‘scared’.
Billy and Toby, 19, at the protest. Iliffe Media
She said: “It is too close to home.
“We have waited a long time for it to be renovated.”
Teenagers Billy and Toby, both 19, showed up to the protest because ‘they are not very happy about’ the potential prospect of asylum seekers living in the flats.
Billy and Toby, 19, at the protest. Iliffe Media
Toby said: “We are coming to show the developers we don’t want them here.”