William Eichler 12 May 2023

Braintree DC plans to appeal court’s airfield decision

Braintree DC plans to appeal court’s airfield decision image
Image: pxl.store / Shutterstock.com.

Braintree District Council is to continue with legal action to try and stop an airfield being used to house hundreds of asylum seekers.

It plans to appeal against a refusal by the High Court to issue an injunction to prevent the move going ahead.

The council went to the courts over the proposed use of Wethersfield Airfield to accommodate up to 1,700 male asylum seekers for up to 180 days each.

The Ministry of Defence-owned land was one of the sites identified when immigration minister Robert Jenrick unveiled plans last month to house asylum seekers in disused military bases to reduce the amount of money being spent on hotel accommodation.

Graham Butland, leader of Braintree District Council, said there were two other judicial review proceedings going ahead, issued from West Lindsey District Council for their site at RAF Scampton and a resident from Wethersfield.

He said there were still many unanswered questions about the proposals and ongoing concerns within the community.

The council was pressing the Home Office for more details and for it to ‘engage with the community.’

Cllr Butland said: ‘We still need to prepare to support any asylum seekers if legal proceedings are not successful.

‘We are continuing to work with local partners to plan for this as well as mitigating any pressures on local services and the impact on the local community.’

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Administrative Officer

Durham County Council
£25,583 - £26,824 pro rata (pay award pending)
Temporary post, full time, term time only.  This post will be for 1 year from the start of the contract. To provide effective clerical and administra Ferryhill
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Business Services Senior Co-ordinator

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £31,015 - £34,811
Are you an experienced administrator who enjoys supporting people, leading a team and making sure services run smoothly? A fantastic opportunity has Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

School Secretary

Durham County Council
£26,403 - £28,598 pro rata (pay award pending)
Required from 1st November 2026   Kirk Merrington Primary School are looking to appoint a full-time school secretary due to the retirement of the curr Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Fleet Hire Desk Assistant

Durham County Council
£27,274 - £29,542
The Fleet Operations Team in Fleet and Depot Management are looking for a Fleet Hire Desk Assistant to join their team.   To assist the Fleet Services Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Teaching Assistant

Durham County Council
£25,185 - £25,989 pro rata (pay award pending)
This role is permanent, term time only plus 2 weeks, 37 hours per week. We are looking for an experienced and qualified Teaching Assistant, who is hi Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner