A HOTEL in Reading town centre is set to reopen to paying guests in the near future following its use to house those seeking asylum.
For a number of years The George Hotel has been used as a site to house those seeking asylum in Reading, attracting visits by ‘auditors’ with a notable visit by YouTuber DJE Media last July.
Asylum seekers are people who have arrived in the UK without legal permission, and request to stay in this country for reasons of safety, such as fleeing war, persecution or domestic and community violence.
Once identified as asylum seekers, the Home Office has been using hotels as places to keep these people while their claims are processed.
Use of hotels in this way was a policy enacted by the previous Conservative government from 2020 onwards.
The George Hotel in King Street is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 15th century, with the current building being from the 17th century.
The current Labour government is enacting a policy of gradually closing the hotels.
It has been revealed that The George, which is run by Mercure, has been closed as an asylum seeker hotel and is set to reopen for guests.
The George is currently ‘sold out’ on booking sites, but rooms are expected to be available soon.
This has been alluded to in a statement by Matthew Barber, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Thames Valley.
A statement by Mr Barber clearly identifies it as a place that has closed as an asylum seeker hotel in a comment he has made in reaction to a declaration by Shabhana Mahmood, the Labour home secretary, that planning permission is being sought to house asylum seekers at an MOD site in Bicester.
Matthew Barber said: “Even the Speaker of the House of Commons has condemned the way that the Government is attempting to sneak out their announcements about new asylum camps. In Parliament, the news was described as “totally unacceptable”.
“Many will welcome the closure of asylum hotels, including the Oxford Witney Hotel and the Mercure George Hotel in Reading, but there will be significant concern about the community impact of MOD Bicester being used as an open camp for asylum seekers.
“As PCC, I have had no direct communication from the Home Office about the plans that have been published.
“MOD Bicester is one of three sites identified that will eventually house around 3,750 asylum seekers.
“At a time when we have seen reductions in our expected funding and underfunding of new officers, I am deeply concerned about the additional burden that the new asylum camp will place on local policing.
“I have already written to the Home Secretary requesting a meeting with officials to discuss additional resources needed as a result of the Government’s proposals.
“I have highlighted significant concerns about the implications of policing potential protests at the site, and the need for additional police resources to manage demand both inside and outside of the camp.”
