Home Office to ‘walk away from Esperance House’ says MP

The reported Home Office plans had hoped to convert the former Esperance Hospital, in Hartington Place, into 125-bed asylum seeker accommodation.

The proposal had faced major scrutiny with Eastbourne council issuing an objection against the plans.

MP for Eastbourne, Josh Babarinde, has now said that the Home Office has agreed to ‘walk away from Esperance House’.

He said: “After making extensive representations directly to the Home Office and via the media, I am pleased that the Home Office finally accepted mine and our local councils’ arguments that the proposed Esperance House scheme was not appropriate.

“Eastbourne is a compassionate and inclusive town, and we do play our part – but mass accommodation schemes like the one that was proposed are not the way, as national charities have also said.”

The MP had previously written to the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, to urge the Home Office to reconsider.

Mr Babarinde added: “It really is time for this Government to clear up the mess of the last one, where Channel crossings were allowed to spiral out of control.

They need to double down on tackling dangerous small boat crossings, and on processing people much more quickly to get on top of this for all involved.

“Thank you to all those who have helped pile the pressure on the Home Office with sensitivity, compassion and humanity at heart. We are all human beings at the end of the day.”

Stephen Holt, leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, echoed the MPs concerns.

He said: “As Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, I made very clear to the Home Office that this site was inappropriate, and this is a result of our continued representations.

“I am very grateful to our partners who joined us, particularly Sussex Police, East Sussex County Council and our local MP for their support. This is the right decision for our town.”