Stafford MP Theo Clarke has met with the Home Secretary to express her concerns over proposals to house 500 asylum seekers at Beaconside.
Mrs Clarke asked the Prime Minister for the meeting with Suella Braverman as local people continue to oppose the appeal by Serco to use the former student accommodation.
The MP asked Mrs Braverman to step in and tell Serco to stop the appeal.
“I met with the Home Secretary to express my concerns, the concerns of the council and most importantly local residents’ concerns this site is wholly inappropriate,” Mrs Clarke said.
“I told her Beaconside is right next to a primary and secondary school, the health faculty of Staffordshire University’s Stafford campus and opposite Staffordshire Police HQ and a large housing estate.
“There is a lack of facilities and services and really anything for anyone to do and the numbers envisaged are totally out of proportion for a small market town like ours.”
Mrs Clarke explained the council’s planning committee had refused permission last summer and raised concerns around the sheer volume of people being housed in such a concentrated area, a shortage of support services locally and the additional pressure on already stretched services like health and education.
She said Staffordshire and Stafford Borough were keen to play their part in housing those fleeing persecution and needing somewhere safe to live while their claims for asylum were heard. But she said Stafford is already playing its part and any more would be detrimental to the town and residents.
The MP added: “I will continue to be a voice for local people and the council on this very important issue. I thank the Home Secretary for the meeting and for listening to my points. She understood all the concerns and that Stafford is doing a great deal already to house asylum seekers.”
