Facebook posts showed a picture of people holding bags getting off a coach outside the hotel
Premier Inn Haydock Park, Lowton, Wigan(Image: Google Street View)
Premier Inn has spoken out to quash rumours that asylum seekers are being housed in its hotel close to Haydock racecourse. A picture was posted in Facebook groups over the weekend of a coach outside the firm’s Haydock Park hotel, just off the East Lancashire Road in Lowton, showing a number of people clutching bags getting off.
It was claimed those on the coach were “immigrants” being “dropped off”. However, these rumours have been confirmed to be untrue. The MEN was provided with a statement from Premier Inn saying the hotel chain has “never accepted this kind of business”.
A spokesperson said: “We do not have any hotels that house asylum seekers. We have never accepted this nature of business and nor do we have any plans to do so and for many reasons our hotels are unsuitable for these kinds of long-term stays.”
The Premier Inn in Lowton is around a 10-minute drive from Haydock racecourse and is one of the most popular hotels on race days.
Councillor Dane Anderton, who represents Leigh West and is a cabinet member for children and families at Wigan Council, said it was a “coach trip of people passing through”. He said the false rumours led to people turning up at the hotel “pestering staff and wasting police time”.
In a statement posted on Facebook, after visiting the site, Cllr Anderton said: “There have been some misleading posts circulating about the Premier Inn at Stonecross. I have visited the site. Premier Inn has confirmed many times on social media they do not and will not take contracts via Serco or any other third party acting on behalf of the government.
“There are no hotels in the borough being used to house asylum seekers. I am not aware of any plans to house asylum seekers in any hotels in Wigan and Leigh. If there were, we would oppose them – just as we did in 2023 when we secured the closure of previous hotel use through proper legal channels.
“In 2023 we also got agreement to stop any further procurement of houses for dispersed accommodation across the borough by Serco.
“The situation at Stonecross is simple: it’s a coach trip of people passing through. Unfortunately, false rumours have already led to people turning up, pestering staff and wasting police time. This needs to stop.
“Let’s remember: when you go on holiday or travel, you don’t wear the same clothes all week – you bring a case, bags and other bits. The same applies here. Staff have been clear, Premier Inn themselves have repeatedly said they do not house asylum seekers, yet false claims continue.”
He added: “Please do not share or post unverified information. Posts spreading these rumours should be taken down. All they achieve is causing division and putting pressure on local staff who are just doing their jobs.”
There have been demonstrations across the country over the weekend protesting the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with a number of counter-protests, also being held.
A UKIP rally took place in Liverpool city centre last Saturday calling for “mass deportations”. Around 150 supporters of the far-right party were outnumbered by counter-protesters.
There have also been repeated protests outside a former Holiday Inn Express in Hoylake. There were regular protests and counter-demonstrations after reports the Home Office was planning to use the hotel as accommodation for male asylum seekers.
The High Court last week granted Epping Forest District Council, in Essex, a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel from September 12. Wirral Council is said to be considering similar legal action over the Home Office plans at the Hoylake hotel.
The government announced plans on Friday to appeal against the High Court’s refusal to allow it to intervene in the case, and to further appeal against the temporary injunction.