Epping Forest District Council says it is seeking clarification from the Home Office after around 140 asylum seekers and a number of staff were evacuated from the Bell Hotel, following a failed fire safety inspection.
The hotel has been at the centre of long-running protests and a legal dispute between the council and the Government. A council spokesperson said it had not been informed in advance of the evacuation, despite ongoing engagement with the Home Office.
‘We are aware that the Home Office has vacated all residents staying at The Bell Hotel, Epping and that only security staff remain onsite,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Despite ongoing engagement with the Home Office, we did not know in advance that this was going to happen. We are seeking clarification from the Home Office on the details of what has happened and what their next steps will be.’
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that staff and asylum seekers were removed due to fire regulation safety concerns, adding that the population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35% in the last year.
