Asylum seekers at Regency Park Hotel in Thatcham being moved elsewhere says Clearsprings Ready Homes

Asylum seekers at the Regency Park are being moved to another hotel.

The government is closing the hotel to asylum seekers on December 12.

But they don’t know where or when they will be made to leave.

Clearsprings Ready Homes issued a letter to asylum seekers on November 2.

It confirmed that “suitable alternative accommodation” would be found for them all.

The letter said: “We will keep you updated on where your new accommodation will be and we will fully support you in providing a smooth transfer to your new accommodation.

“We will aim to give you five days notice of your move although on occasion this may be less.

“You should, where possible, start to prepare for your move as soon as possible.

“If you have any further questions about the closure of this accommodation or about your next accommodation please talk to staff on site.”

Newburytoday asked the Home Office whether its contract with the hotel has expired and why it has not been renewed.

We also asked the Home Office whether it has any idea where the asylum seekers may be placed and how it makes such a decision.

A spokesperson said: “The Home Office continues to provide safe accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, as we work to end the use of hotels which are costing UK taxpayers £8.2million a day.

“Accommodation is allocated on a no-choice basis and individuals may be moved to other locations in line with the Allocation of Accommodation guidance.

“We will work closely with accommodation providers and local authorities to manage the exit process in a way which limits the impact on partners and service users alike.”

The Regency Park Hotel has said it will not comment at this moment in time.

The asylum seekers in the hotel are made up of around 30 women and 70 men.

They are from a number of different countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iran, Palestine, Malaysia, Sudan, Syria, Chad, Russia and Libya.

West Berkshire Action for Refugees lead volunteer Karen Reeve said the asylum seekers at the hotel have been left anxious and scared about their future.

She and her team of volunteers have been at the hotel offering support and listening to their concerns.

She said one asylum seeker asked her: “Karen are they putting us in the streets, where will we sleep?

“Will they put us on the barge?

“Will they put us in the barrack?”

“And we have to say we don’t know.

“So their anxiety levels were through the roof.”

Ms Reeve said the team – of around 48 volunteers – have been working hard to avoid homelessness in the district following two asylum seekers camping outside the district council offices in September.

And they have had success.

Some have found private rented accommodation with volunteers attending house viewings with them.

Around 12 asylum seekers are now with hosts – similar to the Homes for Ukraine scheme – but without the funding.

“There is no money attached to it because we have no money,” Ms Reeve said.

“People have just taken them into their homes as guests.

“We also have a few who have gone to other places in the country where they have a friend or a relative.”

She added: “One of the refugees who camped outside the council offices has his own place now and a job.

“He was eager to work.

“They do want to work and give back to the community.

“One of the asylum seekers said to us the other day it is like you stop becoming a person when you start to travel as a refugee.

“People do not see you anymore as people.

“People have got to know the people at the Regency and they know that they are genuine and lovely people.

“They are very community-minded and willing to help and do volunteering and all the things they have done.

“The Government have relied entirely on charities.”

WBAR is now appealing for anyone with wheeled suitcases that can be donated for those leaving the hotel on short notice.

The suitcases can be dropped off to Thatcham Town Council’s offices on Brownsfield Road.