Council statement over asylum seekers 'misinformation' as bids to buy student halls
A council has released a statement to address "misinformation" over its bid to buy up a block of student halls in Bangor. Cyngor Gwynedd is in negotiations about purchasing the Ty Glyn building in the city.
The property was once a tax office but later became student halls. The 60 bedroom site has been on the market for £4.5m.
It is currently marked as 'Sold STC' (subject to contract) although remains student accommodation at this time. Cyngor Gwynedd are reportedly the ones buying the site which has triggered rumours about their plans.
This has led to social media reports that asylum seekers could be housed in the building in the future by the council. It comes at a time when UK Government is under intense pressure to reduce the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
In a statement Cyngor Gwynedd said: "Cyngor Gwynedd is in negotiations to buy the Tŷ Glyn building in Bangor for the purpose of meeting the housing needs of Gwynedd residents. The Council has no intention of housing asylum seekers or refugees in this building.
"We appreciate the questions residents have raised and remain committed to ensuring open and transparent communication. However, it is important not to speculate or spread misinformation in the community."
About 200 hotels were housing more than 30,000 asylum seekers in England and Wales at the end of March 2025, although it is understood less than 100 of those migrants are housed in Wales.
This compares to a peak of 56,000 asylum seekers in 400 hotels back in 2023 under the last Conservative government.
Senedd member Sian Gwenllian said: "Misinformation of this kind is harmful and risks fuelling unnecessary tension within our community. I urge everyone to pause and think carefully before sharing unverified rumours. My thanks go to Cyngor Gwynedd for their clear statement."
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