Home Office loses bid to postpone Epping Bell Hotel hearing
Epping Forest District Council is taking legal action against Somani Hotels over the use of the Essex hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers
The Home Office has lost a bid to push back by six weeks the full hearing of Epping Forest District Council's (EFDC's) legal challenge against the owner of the Bell Hotel over its use as accommodation for asylum seekers.
On Friday (29 September), the Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction granted by the High Court last month, which would have meant 138 asylum seekers could not be accommodated at the hotel after September 12.
A full trial of the claim is scheduled for October, after which an injunction could be issued.