A new detention centre in Yorkshire could house up to 1,500 single male asylum seekers at one time.
The centre will be based at a former RAF base in the village of Linton-on-Ouse as part of the Government’s new immigration scheme.
The migrants will be able to stay on the site for up to six months as their claims are progressed.
And during that time, they will be free to access the village and other local areas until 10pm each evening.
But the plans have been met by widespread anger from locals.
One resident told GB News: “I’m shocked and surprised, I think people are angry and upset because they weren’t informed and because it’s come so totally out of the blue.”
The former RAF base in Yorkshire which is soon expected to house up to 1,500 migrants
GB News
Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, Kevin Hollinrake
GB News
Another added: “I mean they’ve got to go somewhere, but a village as small as this, it’s crazy.”
A third was also against the scheme: “We currently live in a very tight-knit community, everybody knows everybody, our children feel safe to move around and that will change and that makes us feel unsafe.”
A small number of people have backed the plan with one resident saying: “Fundamentally it’s a good idea, I think we should be welcoming people that are coming from different situations.”
Local Conservative MP, Kevin Hollinrake believes that such a detention centre would be better in a larger town or city.
He told GB News: “I just don’t think it’s the right location, you’d expect this to be in a major conurbation and then the residents are free to come and go, can go out and access leisure facilities or parks.
“It’s bound to be easier to access some services in a large town or city rather than a very small village.
“Potentially up to 1,500 people and that will be bigger than the village, the camp itself will be bigger than the village at that point.”
Approximately 37,000 migrants are currently being accommodated in local hotels across the UK, costing the taxpayer £4.7million a day.
A Home Office statement added: “The asylum reception centre at Linton, North Yorkshire will provide safe and suitable accommodation for asylum seekers and will contribute towards ending the costly use of hotels.
“The new plan for immigration will fix the broken asylum system to make it fair but firm, enabling us to offer support to those most in need while returning those without genuine right to remain in the UK.”