Latest news with #JusticeEyre
ITV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Council's bid to block hotel housing asylum seekers to be heard on Friday
A council's bid to be granted a temporary injunction blocking asylum seekers from being accommodated at a hotel is expected to be heard on Friday. Epping Forest District Council said on Tuesday that it had filed documents at the High Court requesting an interim injunction stopping migrants from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. It follows a series of protests in recent weeks outside the hotel, after an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. PA news agency understands the injunction bid is due to be heard on Friday by Mr Justice Eyre at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, with the case involving the council and Somani Hotels Ltd. The council said in a statement on Tuesday that it had seen 'unprecedented levels of protest and disruption' in connection with asylum seeker accommodation. It continued that it had issued the injunction bid because of the 'clear risk of further escalating community tensions and urgency of the need for the present situation to be brought under control'. Councillors had voted unanimously last month to call on the Home Office to close the hotel, the council added. Chris Whitbread, leader of the council, said the situation 'cannot go on' but the Government 'is not listening'. He said: 'The use by the Home Office of the premises for asylum seekers poses a clear risk of further escalating community tensions already at a high, and the risk of irreparable harm to the local community. 'This will only increase with the start of the new school year. 'In our view, placing asylum seekers in the Bell Hotel is a clear breach of planning permission. It is not in use as a hotel, and it doesn't function as a hotel. 'The establishment of a centre to accommodate asylum seekers in this particular location, in close proximity to five schools, a residential care home, and the shops and amenities of the market town of Epping, is not appropriate in planning terms.' The protests outside the hotel came after a man who was staying at the hotel, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexual assault. Kebatu, who is accused of attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl, denies the charges and will stand trial this month. A second man who resides at the hotel, Syrian national Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, has separately been charged with seven offences. At a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, he denied a count of sexual assault after being alleged to have kissed a man on the neck. He indicated guilty pleas to a further two counts of common assault and four of assault by beating, with all of the offences said to have taken place at the hotel between July 25 and August 12. He was remanded in custody until a trial at the same court next month. Six men charged in relation to disorder outside the hotel will also appear in court next week.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Council's bid to block hotel housing asylum seekers to be heard on Friday
Epping Forest District Council said on Tuesday that it had filed documents at the High Court requesting an interim injunction stopping migrants from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. It follows a series of protests in recent weeks outside the hotel, after an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. PA news agency understands the injunction bid is due to be heard on Friday by Mr Justice Eyre at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, with the case involving the council and Somani Hotels Ltd. The council said in a statement on Tuesday that it had seen 'unprecedented levels of protest and disruption' in connection with asylum seeker accommodation. It continued that it had issued the injunction bid because of the 'clear risk of further escalating community tensions and urgency of the need for the present situation to be brought under control'. Councillors had voted unanimously last month to call on the Home Office to close the hotel, the council added. Chris Whitbread, leader of the council, said the situation 'cannot go on' but the Government 'is not listening'. He said: 'The use by the Home Office of the premises for asylum seekers poses a clear risk of further escalating community tensions already at a high, and the risk of irreparable harm to the local community. 'This will only increase with the start of the new school year. 'In our view, placing asylum seekers in the Bell Hotel is a clear breach of planning permission. It is not in use as a hotel, and it doesn't function as a hotel. Protesters outside the Bell Hotel in Epping (Yui Mok/PA) 'The establishment of a centre to accommodate asylum seekers in this particular location, in close proximity to five schools, a residential care home, and the shops and amenities of the market town of Epping, is not appropriate in planning terms.' The protests outside the hotel came after a man who was staying at the hotel, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexual assault. Kebatu, who is accused of attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl, denies the charges and will stand trial this month. A second man who resides at the hotel, Syrian national Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, has separately been charged with seven offences. At a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, he denied a count of sexual assault after being alleged to have kissed a man on the neck. He indicated guilty pleas to a further two counts of common assault and four of assault by beating, with all of the offences said to have taken place at the hotel between July 25 and August 12. He was remanded in custody until a trial at the same court next month. Six men charged in relation to disorder outside the hotel will also appear in court next week.
Leader Live
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Planning application submitted for 900 new homes in Wrexham
An outline planning application has been submitted by Harworth Group to Wrexham Council for the proposed scheme on land known as Erlas Park - situated to the east of Cefn Road. The proposed site is located close to the Erlas Victorian Walled Garden and Wrexham Rugby Club, and is mainly made up of open grassland and a smaller area of woodland. The proposed site location. (Image: Planning documents) The site has been a key part of Plaid Cymru councillors' fight against the adoption of Wrexham Council's Local Development Plan (LDP). Last year, Cllr Marc Jones won a landmark Court of Appeal case over the controversial LDP. The Court of Appeal ruling quashed the High Court judgment of Mr Justice Eyre made in December 2023 and dismissed the controversial judicial review brought by developers seeking to force through a local plan rejected in April and June 2023 by a cross-party majority of Wrexham councillors. However, an outline planning application has now been submitted for around 900 homes on the site - 20 per cent of which would be designated affordable housing. A design and access statement submitted with the application says: "Erlas Park provides the opportunity to create an attractive, well-connected, high-quality mixed tenure residential neighbourhood with community infrastructure, greenspace and educational and recreational opportunities. "Erlas Park will serve to maximise and deliver the principles of sustainable placemaking for a new community to the east of Wrexham. The benefits of locating new housing growth directly adjacent to the main urban core of Wrexham is a logical and highly sustainable ambition." In terms of access, the design and access says: "Vehicular access to the site will be via Cefn Road, making use of the site frontage along the eastern side of this road. "Whilst the northern part of the site also has frontage with Bryn Estyn Road, it is not appropriate to form a vehicle access onto this road due to its more rural nature, however an emergency access point can be provided here. "Two primary points of access are proposed to serve the residential development: one at the northwestern parcel of the site and one at the south-western parcel of the site. A secondary southern access is also proposed to provide emergency access and additional permeability." (Image: Planning documents) The land to the north of Bryn Estyn Road, is referred to as 'KSS2 (north)' and is being promoted by Barratt and Bloor Homes for 600 new homes. The original application was refused permission in July 2020 and is subject of an outstanding planning appeal. MORE NEWS: The statement adds: "The proposals allow for the provision of a link road connecting the site to the wider KSS2 site allocation to the north to provide connectivity as per the requirements of the Local Plan policy relating to KSS2." There are also proposals for a 10km cycle track and 5km running route on the site. The application, which seeks permission on the broad principles of the development before detailed plans are submitted, will be considered by Wrexham Council at a later date.
