Latest news with #Crick
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
"Migrant hotel has turned our pretty village into no-go zone - we want out"
Fed-up locals say their pretty village has turned into a 'no-go zone' after a migrant hotel opened up nearby. The Ibis hotel in the leafy Northamptonshire village of Crick has been operating as a make-shift asylum centre since last November. The idyllic village, which has a population of less than 2,000 people, features thatched houses, a marina and its own cricket club. But residents claim the area has gone downhill with late-night football matches and packs of men roaming the streets. Some locals are too scared to let their children out after dark after a woman was attacked in nearby Rugby, Warks., last week. Asylum seeker Ahmed Muhammad Almahi, 32, has been charged with sexual assault and is due to appear at Warwick Crown Court next month. News of the suspected assault has shocked local residents and led to an angry crowd of hundreds protesting outside the 111-room hotel on Friday evening. Community leaders are now demanding that Serco, which is responsible for housing asylum seekers, take a tougher stance on migrants staying at the hotel.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Our village has become ‘no go zone' after migrant hotel opened nearby – we're scared to let our children out at night
RESIDENTS are fuming after a migrant hotel cropped up by their pretty village, saying they are scared to go out at night because its so rowdy. The Ibis hotel in the leafy Northamptonshire village of Crick has been operating as a make-shift asylum centre since last November. 7 7 7 The idyllic village, which has a population of less than 2,000 people, has thatched houses, a marina and its own cricket club. But residents claim the area has gone downhill with late-night football matches and packs of men roaming the streets. Villagers claim the area "feels overrun" by migrants. Some locals are too scared to let their children out after dark after a woman was attacked in nearby Rugby, Warwickshire, last week. Asylum seeker Ahmed Muhammad Almahi, 32, has been charged with sexual assault and is due to appear at Warwick Crown Court next month. The suspected assault has shocked local residents and led to an angry crowd of hundreds protesting outside the 111-room hotel on Friday evening. Community leaders are now demanding that Serco, which is responsible for housing asylum seekers, take a tougher stance on migrants staying at the hotel. Police have deployed extra officers to reassure the community, who say they are scared to go outside. But Serco said: "This is not a detention centre and we do not run a security operation." Crick Parish Council issued a statement saying: "The parish council is aware of and is extremely concerned about recent incidents involving the Ibis hotel at Crick. "Regarding the use of the playing field, the parish council has contacted Serco directly. "Serco have told us that they cannot impose a curfew, and the residents are not prevented from leaving the hotel. "Serco have said that they will speak to the hotel residents about using the playing field at night and making a noise. "It is worth reiterating that the decision to house immigrants at the Ibis was a central government decision and was not supported by West Northamptonshire Council or Crick Parish Council, both of whom strongly object." The council also urged residents to contact police if they witness any criminal activity. It comes after a series of protests outside of asylum seeker hotels have taken place across the country this month. This morning, a coach-load of asylum seekers were seen running into a 4-star London migrant hotel under the cover of darkness after protests erupted outside. And a Labour MP in Bournemouth demanded three seaside migrant hotels be shut to help save his town's tourist trade after The Sun revealed they were used by asylum seekers. Tom Hayes said he understood the frustrations of locals and businesses at having to live with the taxpayer-funded residences yards from one of Britain's best beaches. And a migrant has been charged after allegedly sexually assaulting a man at the Bell Hotel - just weeks after fierce protests erupted outside. Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, who lives at the hotel in Epping, Essex, appeared in court yesterday. He has been charged with two counts of common assault, four counts of assault by beating and one count of sexual assault. 'THEY'RE ROWDY AND WE CAN'T SLEEP' One Crick villager, who was too scared to be named, said: "I don't want them here - they have come here illegally but are treated as guests. "We have a really big problem in Crick. It feels like the whole place is overrun with them. "They go to the park in the afternoon and play football, sometimes late at night and are always in large groups. They are rowdy and people living nearby can't sleep. "They've been told to stop doing that as it's a park for children, not adults, but they just carried on. "We heard one boy got his football stolen on there. "It's quite intimidating when you're walking the dog and you come across theses packs of men everywhere." A father-of-two said he is "worried" about letting his daughters go out after dark. He said: "As a dad of two teenage girls I am worried about them even walking round the corner from a friend's house. "I can understand these people are bored and are waiting to be processed but they're making our lives a misery. "If I could move my family to another town I would do but I don't think anyone would want to move in next to a migrant hotel." Another said: "I see them knocking around regularly, along the green. "They get on the bus and don't bother paying the fare, which causes all sorts of problems. 'IT'S A HELL HOLE' "I know if people who have had problems, but they need somewhere to go. "Just not here. The government has a lot to answer for - it's turning our village into a hell hole." Stuart Andrew, Conservative MP for the Daventry Constituency covering Crick, said safety of residents in his area is his "highest priority". He added: "I have been consistently raising concerns with the Home Office about the situation in Crick. "I will continue working closely with local authorities to help ensure our communities are safe for all." Liberal Democrat councillor Rosie Humphreys, who represents the Crick ward, previously said: "I am in complete agreement with Crick Parish Council's position that the Ibis is totally unsuitable for use as a contingency hotel. "The Ibis lacks any facilities close by and is in a remote location - it beggars belief that the Home Office can think it appropriate to use this hotel again. "Even if the government has inherited an asylum system that is all but broken, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed, this is no reason to make a bad decision again by reopening the Ibis for asylum seekers." Northamptonshire Police have deployed extra patrols to the village in a bid to "offer reassurance" to residents. A force spokeswoman said: "We are aware a man from Crick has been charged with sexual assault by Warwickshire Police following an incident in Rugby on Tuesday, August 5. "We know this incident has caused concern to people living in the area and our Neighbourhood Policing Team have been completing extra patrols in Crick in recent days to offer reassurance." A Serco spokesperson said: "Serco is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers on behalf of the Government. "However, under Home Office rules, asylum seekers are free to come and go from their accommodation as they wish. "This is not a detention centre and we do not run a security operation. "All asylum seekers are given an induction into what is expected of anyone living in the UK and in common with everyone else living in this country, they are expected to obey the laws of the land. "Any anti-social behaviour or illegal activities should be reported to the police who will handle the issue." Accor, which owns Ibis, said: "This hotel is an independently owned and operated property. Its alternative use follows an agreement between the owner of the property and the Home Office." 7 7 7
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Villagers plead for curfew after ‘rowdy' migrants take over parks at night
Villagers have pleaded for a curfew to stop 'rowdy' migrants taking over the parks at night. Fed-up locals have complained that the Northamptonshire village of Crick has been turned into a 'no-go zone' since a migrant hotel opened last November. The village, which has a population of less than 2,000, features thatched houses, a marina and its own cricket club. But residents claim to be too scared to let their children out after dark because of late-night football matches and men roaming the streets. A protest took place outside the 111-room Ibis hotel on Friday evening. One villager, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was 'quite intimidating' to be walking your dog and come across 'packs of men'. The local voiced anger that many had come to this country illegally 'but are treated as guests'. They added: 'We have a really big problem in Crick. It feels like the whole place is overrun with them. 'They go to the park in the afternoon and play football, sometimes late at night and are always in large groups. They are rowdy and people living nearby can't sleep. 'They've been told to stop doing that as it's a park for children, not adults, but they just carried on. 'We heard one boy got his football stolen on there.' Community leaders are now demanding that Serco, which is responsible for housing asylum seekers, take a tougher stance on migrants staying at the hotel. In a statement, Crick Parish Council said: 'The parish council is aware of and is extremely concerned about recent incidents involving the Ibis hotel at Crick. 'Regarding the use of the playing field, the parish council has contacted Serco directly. 'Serco have told us that they cannot impose a curfew, and the residents are not prevented from leaving the hotel. 'Serco have said that they will speak to the hotel residents about using the playing field at night and making a noise. 'It is worth reiterating that the decision to house immigrants at the Ibis was a central Government decision and was not supported by West Northamptonshire Council or Crick Parish Council, both of whom strongly object.' The council also urged residents to contact police if they witness any criminal activity. A father-of-two who lives in the village said he was 'worried' about letting his teenage daughters go out after dark. He said: 'I can understand these people are bored and are waiting to be processed but they're making our lives a misery. 'If I could move my family to another town I would do but I don't think anyone would want to move in next to a migrant hotel.' Another villager said: 'I see them knocking around regularly. 'They get on the bus and don't bother paying the fare, which causes all sorts of problems. 'The Government has a lot to answer for – it's turning our village into a hellhole.' Stuart Andrew, Conservative MP for Daventry, the constituency covering Crick, said the safety of residents was his 'highest priority'. He added: 'I have been consistently raising concerns with the Home Office about the situation in Crick.' Lib Dem Cllr Rosie Humphreys, who represents the Crick ward, previously said: 'I am in complete agreement with Crick Parish Council's position that the Ibis is totally unsuitable for use as a contingency hotel.' 'Even if the government has inherited an asylum system that is all but broken, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed, this is no reason to make a bad decision again by reopening the Ibis for asylum seekers.' A Serco spokesman said: 'Serco is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers on behalf of the Government. However, under Home Office rules, asylum seekers are free to come and go from their accommodation as they wish. This is not a detention centre and we do not run a security operation. 'All asylum seekers are given an induction into what is expected of anyone living in the UK and in common with everyone else living in this country, they are expected to obey the laws of the land. 'Any anti-social behaviour or illegal activities should be reported to the police who will handle the issue.' Accor, which owns Ibis, said: 'This hotel is an independently owned and operated property. Its alternative use follows an agreement between the owner of the property and the Home Office.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Residents complain their lives being made a misery and their village has become a 'no go zone' after a migrant hotel was opened nearby
It boasts almost 50 listed buildings and a conservation area at its centre. But villagers in the pretty Northamptonshire village of Crick said their community is becominga 'no-go zone' because of a migrant hotel nearby. The idyllic village, which has a population of around 2,000, features thatched houses, a marina and hosts an annual boat show and the quirkier summer scarecrow and music festival. But residents claim Crick, renowned for its many buildings carved from local ironstone, has gone downhill with late-night football matches and packs of men roaming the streets since a nearby Ibis hotel began housing migrants at the end of last year. Some locals are too scared to let their children out after dark after a woman was attacked in nearby Rugby, over the county border in Warwickshire, last week. Asylum seeker Ahmed Muhammad Almahi, 32, has been charged with sexual assault and is due to appear at Warwick Crown Court next month. News of the suspected assault has shocked local residents and led to an angry crowd of hundreds protesting outside the 111-room hotel last Friday evening. Community leaders are now demanding that Serco, the outsourcing giant which manages asylum housing contracts for the Home Office across the Midlands, take a tougher stance on migrants staying at the hotel. Crick Parish Council issued a statement saying: 'The parish council is aware of and is extremely concerned about recent incidents involving the Ibis hotel at Crick. 'Regarding the use of the playing field, the parish council has contacted Serco directly. 'Serco have told us that they cannot impose a curfew, and the residents are not prevented from leaving the hotel. 'Serco have said that they will speak to the hotel residents about using the playing field at night and making a noise. 'It is worth reiterating that the decision to house immigrants at the Ibis was a central government decision and was not supported by West Northamptonshire Council or Crick Parish Council, both of whom strongly object.' The council also urged residents to contact police if they witness any criminal activity. The Ibis Rugby East hotel is situated around a mile from the edge of the village, on the other side of the M1 and ordinarily serves the DRIFT logistics park and rail freight terminal. But residents in Crick, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book, say the area now 'feels overrun' by migrants. One villager, who was too scared to be named, said: 'I don't want them here - they have come here illegally but are treated as guests. 'We have a really big problem in Crick. It feels like the whole place is overrun with them. 'They go to the park in the afternoon and play football, sometimes late at night and are always in large groups. They are rowdy and people living nearby can't sleep. 'They've been told to stop doing that as it's a park for children, not adults, but they just carried on. 'We heard one boy got his football stolen on there. 'It's quite intimidating when you're walking the dog and you come across theses packs of men everywhere.' A father-of-two said he is 'worried' about letting his daughters go out after dark. He said: 'As a dad of two teenage girls I am worried about them even walking round the corner from a friend's house. 'I can understand these people are bored and are waiting to be processed but they're making our lives a misery. 'If I could move my family to another town I would do but I don't think anyone would want to move in next to a migrant hotel.' Another said: 'I see them knocking around regularly, along the green. 'Some get on the bus and don't bother paying the fare, which causes all sorts of problems. 'They need somewhere to go. 'Just not here. The government has a lot to answer for - it's turning our village into a hell hole.' The hotel had previously housed migrants under a 12-month contract running from late 2022. Stuart Andrew, Conservative MP for the Daventry Constituency covering Crick, said safety of residents in his area is his 'highest priority'. He added: 'I have been consistently raising concerns with the Home Office about the situation in Crick. 'I will continue working closely with local authorities to help ensure our communities are safe for all.' Liberal Democrat councillor Rosie Humphreys, who represents the Crick ward, previously said: 'I am in complete agreement with Crick Parish Council's position that the Ibis is totally unsuitable for use as a contingency hotel. 'The Ibis lacks any facilities close by and is in a remote location - it beggars belief that the Home Office can think it appropriate to use this hotel again. 'Even if the government has inherited an asylum system that is all but broken, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed, this is no reason to make a bad decision again by reopening the Ibis for asylum seekers.' Past residents of he village include Archbishop William Laud, a one-time rector of Crick who became Archbishop of Canterbury but was accused of treason and beaheaded in January 1645. In the 1960s, the famous pop group of the era, The Fortunes, also lived locally. Northamptonshire Police have deployed extra patrols to the village in a bid to 'offer reassurance' to residents. A force spokeswoman said: 'We are aware a man from Crick has been charged with sexual assault by Warwickshire Police following an incident in Rugby on Tuesday, August 5. 'We know this incident has caused concern to people living in the area and our Neighbourhood Policing Team have been completing extra patrols in Crick in recent days to offer reassurance.' A spokesman for Serco said: 'Serco is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers on behalf of the Government. 'However, under Home Office rules, asylum seekers are free to come and go from their accommodation as they wish. This is not a detention centre and we do not run a security operation. 'All asylum seekers are given an induction into what is expected of anyone living in the UK and in common with everyone else living in this country, they are expected to obey the laws of the land. 'Any anti-social behaviour or illegal activities should be reported to the Police who will handle the issue.' Accor, the hotel group that includes Ibis within its portfolio of brands, said the hotel was independently owned and operated and added: 'Its alternative use follows an agreement between the owner of the property and the Home Office.'
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
12th-century Welsh manor with full banqueting hall goes on sale for the same price as a London flat...but which would YOU choose
A 12th-century Welsh manor with its own banqueting hall is on the market for the same price as a flat in central London. Tucked away in the Welsh countryside, Crick Manor dates back to the year 1270 and has been in the same family since since 1971. Situated in the village of Crick, Monmouthshire, the house has good transport links despite its quaint surroundings. The four-bedroom home also comes with its own Banqueting Hall with stone-arched windows dating back to 1270. The stunning manor is available as a freehold for £750,000. For the same price, a one bedroom flat in Marylebone in London with just 511 square foot of space is on the market. Crick Manor has been described as an historic residence with features including stone walls and inglenook fireplaces. The iconic banqueting hall is currently being used for business purposes and has two raised platforms for office and work space. The description for the property said the hall could be used for events, parties, or could be adapted as a luxury living space. Beneath the hall, there is a basement with an original cobbled floor which was once used as a kitchen for the hall. The property also features three stone-faced outbuildings, including a garage/workshop with shutter doors, a stone shed and a detached workshop with power and lighting. Inside the main house, a porch leads through to a dining hall with exposed stone walls, timber beams and an inglenook fireplace with a gas coal effect fire. The dining hall provides access to the kitchen, inner hallway, and a spacious lounge, which features exposed stonework, wooden beams and another fireplace. The kitchen is equipped with a range of wall and base units, providing space for appliances, including fridge, freezer, dishwasher, freestanding cooker and washing machine. There are four double bedrooms and a large loft room which the listing says is suitable for conversion into additional bedrooms. There is a family bathroom with a bath, washbasin and a bidet. Another shower room is located next to one of the bedrooms, which could be converted into an ensuite bedroom. The property also covers around half an acre of grounds, with multiple seating areas, a rear patio and a car park with enough space for multiple vehicles. Crick Manor also presents a business opportunity. The listing says that the property is perfectly suited for a range of business ventures, with its ample parking, sizeable gardens and huge Banqueting Hall. Meanwhile in London, and coming in at the same price as the manor, a one-bedroom appartment in Marylebone is up for sale. The home is around 40 times smaller than the grounds of Crick Manor, but does sit on a 'quiet street close to the attractions of the West End', according to the listing. It features just three rooms, a bedroom, kitchen and reception room. The property is also a short walk away from Regent's Park as well as the amenities and attractions of Baker Street.
