MP calls Minister to return Chesterfield hotel used as asylum seeker accommodation to ‘its normal use’

Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins has spoken in the House of Commons this week to raise the issue of Chesterfield’s Sandpiper Hotel being used as asylum seeker accommodation for a prolonged period of time.

Addressing MP Alex Norris, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Mr Perkins said that Sandpiper ‘has done it’s turn’ and should be ‘returned to its normal use’.

Chesterfield MP has highlighted that the numbers of asylum seekers housed at the hotel have dropped and Sandpiper was ‘massively underutilised’.

He further called for action to ensure those asylum seekers whose appeals have ‘no serious prospect of succeeding’ to be expedited to reduce the ‘appalling backlog’ of cases.

Commenting on his House of Commons comments, Mr Perkins said: “With the reduced numbers of asylum seekers housed at the Sandpiper Hotel, I asked the Minister when it will be returned to its normal use and what plans the Government has to expediate the appeals of those who have no serious prospect of succeeding to ease the backlog in appeals.”

In response Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris promised that Sandpiper would not be open as an asylum seeker accommodation ‘a day longer than needed’ but was unable to provide a specific date at this stage.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: “On my Hon Friend’s point about the Sandpiper, I cannot give him a date but I will say, to be clear to him and his community, that it will not be open a day longer than needed.

"The Sandpiper hotel is a vital community amenity that needs to be returned to its public use.

"With regard to important reforms to appeals, my hon. Friend may not have to wait much longer to see more.”