ASYLUM seekers are being housed in a Bolton hotel — in what contractors have described as “exceptional circumstances”.

Up to 30 asylum seekers are currently staying at the Premier Inn, next to the Macron Stadium, on a short-term basis.

The company responsible for finding housing for asylum seekers in the North West — Serco — confirmed that a number of people had been staying at the hotel since the weekend, but would not say where they were from.

It is understood the group was transferred to Bolton from London.

A Serco spokesman said: “We only use hotels in exceptional circumstances. There are less than 30 people currently staying at the Premier Inn, and we are moving them out as soon as possible — probably in a couple of days.

“Over the past few months there has been an increase in the number of asylum seekers in the UK, with people coming from countries including Iraq, Syria and north east Africa.”

Serco refused to say how much it was paying the hotel for the accommodation. There are no children in the group.

Rooms at the Horwich hotel can cost up to £79 a night — or £29 when booked ahead.

There are 126 rooms at the budget hotel, which is a common destination for football fans and business people.

A spokesman for Premier Inn said: “We do have a number of people staying with us on a very short-term basis through bookings made on behalf of the government.


MORE:


“However we do not comment on the specific details regarding individual guests.”

Julie Hilling, MP for Bolton West, said the people of Horwich and Bolton should extend their “normal friendly welcome” for people fleeing their home countries.

She added: “The Border Agency really needs to pull its finger out and as soon as possible and process these people’s applications for asylum.

“They should either agree they are refugees and help them start a new life, or if decided that they are not legitimate, send them back to their country of origin.

“These are people who have had to flee the most incredible situations and all they want is a place of security and to lead a more normal life — you can’t do that in a hotel.

“To live your life in a hotel is absolutely appalling. Housing asylum seekers in hotels isn’t costing the borough anything.

“We all pay through our taxes, but we are not paying through our council tax to re-house these people.”

The Bolton News reported last month how the town was in the top 10 places in the country with the most asylum seekers, with 755 seeking refuge in Bolton between April and June this year.

Serco’s spokesman said there had been an increase in the number of refugees coming to the UK — but charity Refugee Action said figures showed the number of people claiming asylum in the UK was lower than it was five years ago.

Rob Clarke, area manager for Greater Manchester, said: “The reason people are being moved into hotels is not due to an increase in numbers of asylum seekers. It is down to a backlog in Home Office decision making.

“The reality is that private providers have not found enough properties for people to be moved into.

“This is yet another example of the government’s failure to support vulnerable people who have come to the UK in search of safety.”

Serco was awarded the contract for the private housing of asylum seekers by the Home Office in 2012, but a government spokesman said it had been warned against the use of hotels.

A National Audit Office report in January found that the company was failing to meet targets on the standard of accommodation and waiting times — and said it could be asked to pay back up to £4 million to the government for poor performance.

The Home Office spokesman added: “The UK has a proud history of offering sanctuary to those who need it. We have made clear to our providers that the use of hotels is only ever acceptable as a short-term measure.”