The hotel chain and a council chief have spoken out to quash the rumoursThe Premier Inn in Lowton(Image: Google Street View)

Asylum seekers have not been moved into a Premier Inn in Wigan, it has been confirmed.

A picture was posted in Facebook groups over the weekend of a coach outside the firm’s Haydock Park hotel, just off the East Lancs Road in Lowton, showing a number of people clutching bags getting off.

It was claimed they were ‘immigrants’ being ‘dropped off.’ The rumours have been confirmed to be untrue.

Premier Inn issued a statement saying it has ‘never accepted this kind of business’ at any of their hotels nationwide.

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A spokesperson for the company told the Manchester Evening News: “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.”

Coun Dane Anderton issued a statement on social media after visiting the hotel(Image: Coun Dane Anderton (Facebook))

Coun Dane Anderton, Labour councillor for Leigh West, and cabinet member for children and families at Wigan council, said it was a ‘coach trip of people passing through.’

He said the false rumours had led to people turning up at the hotel on Stone Cross Lane North and Yew Tree Way, ‘pestering staff and wasting police time.’ He added that no hotels in the borough have housed asylum seekers since 2023.

In a statement posted on Facebook, after visiting the site, Coun Anderton said: “There have been some misleading posts circulating about the Premier Inn at Stonecross.

“I have visited the site. Premier Inn have 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 & Leigh.

‘This needs to stop’

“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.

These included one at the Victoria Hotel in Chadderton, Oldham, on Saturday where at its height around 150 anti-immigration protesters and 20 anti-racism protesters stood yards apart on the pavement as several police officers watched on.

In Greater Manchester, there are currently nine hotels being used to house asylum seekers, the Manchester Evening News understands. Four hotels are still being used to house asylum seekers in Manchester, with one in Oldham; two in Stockport; and two in Trafford.

Protests have taken place in recent weeks outside Cresta Court in Altrincham, where asylum seekers began to move in last year.

On Tuesday, the High Court granted Epping Forest District Council a temporary injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, from September 12.

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.

Other local councils also publicly announced their intention to seek legal advice as to whether they could achieve a similar injunction for hotels in their areas.