An Eastbourne Councillor has condemned proposals by the Home Office to convert the former Esperance Hospital into an 125-bed asylum seeker accommodation centre
The move has been called dangerous and damaging to Eastbourne.
The Home Office is seeking for a 5 year lease to convert the former private hospital, which is situated in Hartington Place and closed down back in July 2019. This is despite concerns raised by Sussex Police and Eastbourne Borough Council.
Opposition Leader Councillor Robert Smart has stated that major works have already begun to prepare the building for occupation, which is rumoured to be ready by March 2025.
He went to say, “This proposal from the Home Office shows an appalling disregard for Eastbourne’s future. Esperance House is located in a neighbourhood made up largely of elderly and vulnerable residents, and is close to the heart of Eastbourne’s tourism and hospitality businesses. It would be hard to find a site less suitable for housing Asylum Seekers. We also have one of the most acute housing shortages in the South East and it would be ludicrous to convert this site from providing the much needed homes local people need.
Eastbourne’s Conservative opposition group have launched a petition calling on the Government and Eastbourne Council to halt these plans. The petition can be found at: eastbourneconservatives.org.uk/stopasylumcentre
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