Epping Forest District Council votes to continue Bell Hotel appeal process
Council says it remains committed to closure of asylum seeker accommodation.
Epping Forest District Council has voted to proceed with the next stage of the appeals process in its bid to close the Bell Hotel in Epping, following a full council debate.
The council is challenging the use of the Bell Hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers, claiming it breaches planning rules and has led to protests.
This follows the recent High Court ruling, which dismissed the council's request for a permanent injunction to stop asylum seekers from being housed there.
The council's legal action has so far focused on arguing that housing asylum seekers at the hotel constitutes a "material change of use," requiring planning permission. However, the High Court judge, Mr Justice Mould, rejected these claims, stating that an injunction was not a "just and convenient" solution.
Earlier attempts to secure a temporary injunction were overturned by the Court of Appeal, which found the decision "seriously flawed in principle." A subsequent three-day hearing last month resulted in an 87-page judgment against granting a permanent injunction.
The use of the Bell Hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers has sparked regular protests in the area, with police monitoring and managing public order during these events.
Epping Forest District Council says it remains committed to seeking closure of the Bell Hotel and will take legal advice at each stage of the appeals process.