Full Access Granted to West Lindsey District Council at RAF Scampton
The West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) has been given unrestricted access to RAF Scampton, following accusations of denial of entry earlier this week. Council officers are scheduled to inspect the former airbase on Thursday, September 14 after a Temporary Stop Notice (TSN) was issued last Friday.
An abrupt halt was demanded on work being carried out by the Home Office on the site following the TSN. Despite this, the department continues to rapidly escalate its efforts to convert the site into an asylum centre, with delivery of portacabins ongoing throughout the week.
Restricted Access
Since the TSN was issued, reports suggest that the council officers were denied access to the site. Moreover, the Home Office refrained from offering a comment due to ongoing legal proceedings, which include a scheduled judicial review at the end of October.
"Following the Temporary Stop Notice, the council has been granted full access to the site on Thursday, September 14. Technical officers will assess all activities across the site and then they will need time to consider the findings. The council would like to thank the community for their support and communications in providing us with information on the site and we will continue to keep you updated with information where we can."
Sally Grindrod-Smith, WLDC Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities, said after the granting of full access to the site.
Public Alarm and Criticism
Responses to the situation include serious concerns voiced by local residents, such as Sarah Carter, a leader of the Save Our Scampton campaign group. Carter voiced her concern over the Home Office's continuance of work prior to the judicial review.
"It makes us sick that the Home Office are carrying on with this work before the judicial review has even happened. All they care about is how much money they are saving by not having to use hotels to house asylum seekers, but it could all be cancelled come the end of October."
Carter expressed, indicating her and her community's alarm over the prospect of proximity to the planned asylum centre.
'Lack of Transparency'
Additional criticisms have been raised regarding the perceived lack of transparency by the Home Office. Scampton councillor, Roger Patterson, expressed his disapproval with regards to the dispute over whether the Home Office is following the issued TSN.
"It’s out of order that the council can’t go on the site and make sure that the TSN is being followed. I don’t know how they’ve swung this one. It’s contempt. It’s clear that the Home Office is not fit for purpose but it seems to just get away with it."
Patterson proclaimed, echoing the frustrations of the local community.