Asylum centre gets go-ahead
The High Court has rejected a locally-led legal protest to an Oxfordshire asylum centre.
Cherwell District Council applied for a judicial review of the decision to base an accommodation complex for hundreds of asylum seekers near Bicester.
The Tory-led council argued that the proposals had legal problems at a recent two-day hearing.
Deputy prime minister John Prescott okayed the centre despite local opposition and an independent planning inspector’s advice.
But Mr Justice Collins said: “In all the circumstances I am satisfied that no grounds have been established which would justify me in deciding that the defendant’s decision was wrong in law.”
He added: “Mr Prescott was entitled to exercise his own judgment on the weight to be attached to the material matters and thus to differ from the inspector.”
Local residents voiced concerns that their area might become “swamped” by the large numbers of refugees at the centre and pressure would be placed on local services, such as health and education.
The site, nestled between two Oxfordshire villages, is set to hold as many as 400 single men, 50 single women, and 300 family members whilst their applications are processed. Residents would be free to enter and exit the complex at will.
Tony Baldry, MP for Banbury, said: “No organisation involved in the day-to-day welfare of asylum seekers thought this was the right policy and the court’s decision raises serious questions over the democracy of planning policy.
“If ministers can put up two fingers to a planning inspector after a planning inquiry, what’s the point of having them?
“The idea of fitting asylum seekers into the Oxfordshire countryside is a crazy policy.
“I suspect if it ever happens, it will be a disaster because they will simply drift away into the countryside.”
