Described by its owners as “the ideal setting for a short break and overlooking a serene lake” the 70-bedroom Dragonfly Hotel in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough is to become a temporary home for 146 migrants who have arrived in the UK in recent months.
Anyone trying to book a room in the hotel is met with “this property has no rooms available for your travel dates; try other dates” on hotel booking websites.
The Surya Group who own the hotel has agreed a contract with Government contractors Serca to house the migrants, but it is not yet known for how long.
The decision to use the hotel has infuriated former Peterborough MP Paul Bristow, now campaigning to become the next Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
He said in a Facebook post: “The Government has taken the decision to accommodate migrants who have illegally crossed the Channel, at the Dragonfly Hotel in Thorpe Meadows
“146 single males will be accommodated at the hotel – which is on the boating lake and next to the Boathouse pub.
“Even the council recognise this is the wrong location. Peterborough is a caring city, and we already host more asylum seekers than any other location in the East of England. This is a residential area with limited access to services and amenities.”
In a reference to the use by the Conservative Government of another hotel, he said: “This is the Great Northern all over again. An asset that should be used to enhance our city.
“I got the Great Northern stood down when I was our MP. Despite my warning last month – that Peterborough could be a target for migrant hotel accommodation – our Labour MPs have done nothing to stop it
“This is not the fault of the migrants themselves – but we can’t keep letting Peterborough being used like this. This is the Government’s fault for scrapping the Rwanda deterrent – and our Labour MPs for not standing up for Peterborough.”
Cllr Ishfaq Hussain said: “There is definitely a glitch in the matrix. Our pensioners are suffering yet this government can still house and pay for illegal migrants to be kept warm and fed in hotels.”
Peterborough Conservatives in a Facebook post yesterday wrote: “City councillors have today been informed that the Government will be using a well-known Peterborough hotel to house asylum seekers from this weekend, despite their manifesto promise to end asylum hotels.
“Another broken promise by the Labour Party”.
Former Conservative MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson (now Lord Jackson) said: “To all those local people who believed Labour’s ‘stop the boats’ lies and voted accordingly – this is on you.”
REFORM UK commented: “Latest Serco acquisition in Peterborough. Prime spot, overlooking a rowing lake in the sought after Nene Park. 140 single men with no paperwork are moving into the Dragonfly, rubbing shoulders in an expansive parkland enjoyed by families whilst Peterborians wait on social housing in crummy hotels.”
