Latest news with #DavidNeal
The Guardian
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Number of asylum seekers housed at former RAF base in Essex to rise by 50%
The Home Office is increasing the number of asylum seekers accommodated on a controversial military base by more than 50%, making it the largest of its kind in the UK. Currently there are about 800 asylum seekers accommodated at the remote former RAF base MDP Wethersfield in Essex and the Home Office is moving in 425 more. Wethersfield is one of only two Home Office mass accommodation sites, along with Napier barracks in Folkestone, and was already the largest. Campaigners and the local council have expressed concern about the increase at the remote site, where there has previously been anti-migrant protests. NGOs are concerned that asylum seekers en route to Wethersfield could be targeted by anti-migrant demonstrators on their way to protest outside the Bell hotel in Epping if their routes cross. An internal Home Office update on the situation at Wethersfield dated 24 July, seen by the Guardian, states: 'While the site's regular cap is 800 an additional 445 bed spaces may be used temporarily during peak demand. There are no plans to exceed 1,245.' Charities and watchdogs have criticised conditions on the site. The former independent chief inspector of borders and immigration David Neal described 'an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness' among the asylum seekers there when he inspected the site. Home Office sources said that the increase in numbers was a temporary measure and that all relevant health and safety rules would be complied with. The population of the nearby village of the same name was recorded in the most recent census as 1,298. Although some local residents have expressed opposition to having asylum seekers on the base, many have said they are supportive of the asylum seekers themselves and are involved with initiatives to provide hands on support for them during their time at Wethersfield. 'Things are pretty quiet,' said one resident. 'We haven't had much trouble here.' In March 2025 a high court judge found the former home secretary Suella Braverman acted unlawfully in accommodating three asylum seekers at the former RAF base. The men – who were at Wethersfield between July 2023 and February 2024 – argued they were living in prison-like conditions. Responding to the planned increase in numbers at Wethersfield, Steve Smith, the chief executive of Care4Calais, said: 'Given the anxiety and despair this former military camp has inflicted on its residents, the government should be shutting it down not expanding its capacity. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'That's what Keir Starmer promised in opposition, and that was before the high court ruled that survivors of torture and modern slavery had been unlawfully accommodated at the camp. It is deeply worrying that the opposite is now happening, with hundreds more set to the subjected to this prison-like camp.' Graham Butland, the leader of Braintree district council, said: 'This disused airbase in a very rural area does not have the infrastructure to host asylum seekers on such a large scale.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'All use of property or sites under our ownership is carried out in accordance with relevant planning permissions, and we work together with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the accommodation estate is continuously reviewed and managed safely and effectively at all times.'
Malaysian Reserve
16-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Georgia-Pacific Announces $191 Million CAD Capital Investment in Englehart OSB Mill
State-of-the-art facility improvements will reduce costs and downtime ENGLEHART, ON, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ — Georgia-Pacific today announces a new capital project for the company's Englehart OSB (Oriented Strand Board) mill in Ontario. The approximately $191 million CAD investment will fund a new log processing system and include the expansion and construction of a new finished goods warehouse. This investment comes as Englehart OSB celebrates its fifteenth anniversary as a Georgia-Pacific facility. The first board was produced at the mill in 1983. 'Georgia-Pacific is focused on the future and committed to exceeding the needs of our customers,' said David Neal, executive vice president, building products. 'This investment strengthens our operational capabilities and positions the Englehart mill for greater productivity in the years ahead. While we implement these improvements, the dedicated local team will continue operating the facility, ensuring we are able to meet current market demand.' 'By enhancing the log processing system and warehouse at the mill, we show our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to reinvesting in the mill, the town of Englehart, the surrounding communities, and our preferred partners,' said John Beers, president –structural panels. 'These improvements will continue our focus on staying competitive and ensures Englehart is an environmentally conscious, 21st century mill.' The processing system in an OSB mill takes raw wood materials and prepares them for producing OSB. This includes sorting logs, debarking, and cutting them into strands to prepare them for drying. Design and engineering work has started, and the project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027. About Georgia-Pacific Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products. Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world's largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: For news, visit: Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia-Pacific Announces $140 Million USD Capital Investment in Englehart OSB Mill
State-of-the-art facility improvements will reduce costs and downtime ENGLEHART, ON, July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia-Pacific today announces a new capital project for the company's Englehart OSB (Oriented Strand Board) mill in Ontario. The approximately $140 million USD ($191 million CAD) investment will fund a new log processing system and include the expansion and construction of a new finished goods warehouse. This investment comes as Englehart OSB celebrates its fifteenth anniversary as a Georgia-Pacific facility. The first board was produced at the mill in 1983. "Georgia-Pacific is focused on the future and committed to exceeding the needs of our customers," said David Neal, executive vice president, building products. "This investment strengthens our operational capabilities and positions the Englehart mill for greater productivity in the years ahead. While we implement these improvements, the dedicated local team will continue operating the facility, ensuring we are able to meet current market demand." "By enhancing the log processing system and warehouse at the mill, we show our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to reinvesting in the mill, the town of Englehart, the surrounding communities, and our preferred partners," said John Beers, president – structural panels. "These improvements will continue our focus on staying competitive and ensures Englehart is an environmentally conscious, 21st century mill." The processing system in an OSB mill takes raw wood materials and prepares them for producing OSB. This includes sorting logs, debarking, and cutting them into strands to prepare them for drying. Design and engineering work has started, and the project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027. About Georgia-PacificBased in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products. Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world's largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: For news, visit: Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Georgia-Pacific Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia-Pacific Announces $191 Million CAD Capital Investment in Englehart OSB Mill
State-of-the-art facility improvements will reduce costs and downtime ENGLEHART, ON, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ -- Georgia-Pacific today announces a new capital project for the company's Englehart OSB (Oriented Strand Board) mill in Ontario. The approximately $191 million CAD investment will fund a new log processing system and include the expansion and construction of a new finished goods warehouse. This investment comes as Englehart OSB celebrates its fifteenth anniversary as a Georgia-Pacific facility. The first board was produced at the mill in 1983. "Georgia-Pacific is focused on the future and committed to exceeding the needs of our customers," said David Neal, executive vice president, building products. "This investment strengthens our operational capabilities and positions the Englehart mill for greater productivity in the years ahead. While we implement these improvements, the dedicated local team will continue operating the facility, ensuring we are able to meet current market demand." "By enhancing the log processing system and warehouse at the mill, we show our commitment to continuous improvement and our dedication to reinvesting in the mill, the town of Englehart, the surrounding communities, and our preferred partners," said John Beers, president –structural panels. "These improvements will continue our focus on staying competitive and ensures Englehart is an environmentally conscious, 21st century mill." The processing system in an OSB mill takes raw wood materials and prepares them for producing OSB. This includes sorting logs, debarking, and cutting them into strands to prepare them for drying. Design and engineering work has started, and the project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2027. About Georgia-Pacific Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products. Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world's largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: For news, visit: Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube. SOURCE Georgia-Pacific View original content to download multimedia:
Arab News
07-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Ex-detainees at UK asylum center bring claim against govt
LONDON: At least 250 asylum-seekers detained at a UK facility are suing the government for unlawful detention after it emerged that the site was dangerously overcrowded and faced infectious disease outbreaks. Manston asylum center in Kent, used by the Home Office to process people who had crossed the English Channel on small boats, was once described by a union official as a 'humanitarian crisis on British soil,' The Guardian reported on Monday. David Neal, the former independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, said he was 'rendered speechless' after seeing conditions at Manston. Andy Baxter, a senior official at the Prison Officers' Association, also condemned conditions at the site after being warned by union members working there. He described Manston as closely resembling a refugee camp in an unstable country after visiting the site, which he said was 'in crisis.' Marquees that were intended to be used for hours upon the arrival of asylum-seekers had been used for more than a month, despite the Home Office planning to relocate arrivals to more permanent accommodation. People slept on the ground using pieces of cardboard, he added. Manston also faced diphtheria and scabies outbreaks, with one man dying after contracting the former, a rarity in the UK due to vaccination. Kent Police also investigated claims that guards at the facility had assaulted asylum-seekers. One of the claimants against the government, a 19-year-old Sudanese national, was detained at the site for 33 days, and his past experience of being tortured and trafficked was never recorded by officials at Manston. While at the facility, he was 'often hungry' and was allowed one shower during the 33-day period. He was also denied a change of clothes, and was told by officials to 'go back to your country.' A 17-year-old Kurd from Iraq, detained for 12 days, had his birth date recorded as five years older than his real age, despite telling officials he was a child. A Syrian woman who arrived in the UK with her husband and five children outlined the troubling details of her ordeal in the claim. Her husband was removed to a separate immigration center after complaining about conditions at Manston, yet she was not informed about his whereabouts and feared he had been deported. The woman and her children spent 11 days in a freezing, dirty tent, and were only permitted to leave to go to the toilet. Her children contracted a stomach bug that was circulating at the site, and she had nowhere to wash their vomit-stained clothes. She later discovered that she was pregnant after suffering morning sickness, and was unable to access medical care in Manston. After being released and seeking treatment, she discovered that she had suffered a miscarriage. She has now reunited with her husband together with their children, but said the experience at Manston continues to affect the family. Emily Soothill of law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn, who is representing some of the claimants, said: 'We consider that our clients were falsely imprisoned and that the conditions in Manston were such that their human rights were breached. 'People seeking asylum are more vulnerable to physical and mental illness; they have the right to be treated with dignity and should not be detained in this way.'
