Around 100 migrant workers moved to shelters after “grossly unsuitable” accommodation is shutdown in Sealand

Update:

Flintshire County Council’s Chief Executive Colin Everett said today, Tuesday March 24:

“The Council is continuing to work with the migrant workers to help them plan for the future, either in the local area, elsewhere in the UK or their repatriation.

“Just under 50 of the migrant workers who stayed for one night at an emergency reception centre at Holywell Leisure Centre have now all moved to short term temporary accommodation in the local area. The Leisure Centre is now open as normal. About 40 workers who have stayed for two nights at a second emergency reception centre in the region will be moving to short term temporary accommodation today. All have continued with their daily work since they moved from the property in Sealand on Sunday.

” None of the temporary rehousing options being offered to those who wish to remain locally involve allocating council and other social housing properties for which there are waiting lists.

“Prohibition orders have been served on the premises in Sealand and prosecution action against the owners is under consideration.”

Monday’s Story:

Around 100 migrant workers have been moved to emergency reception centres in Flintshire and elsewhere in north Wales after they were found living in”grossly unsuitable” conditions at properties on Deeside Lane in Sealand. 

A multi agency operation aimed at protecting the welfare of a large and growing number of migrant workers who were inappropriately housed in unsafe and illegal premises was carried out on Sunday 22nd March.

Flintshire County Council, Police, Fire, Health,Immigration and other Government teams were involved in the operation which centred around Hyperion House and the outlying buildings, the British Red Cross were on hand to provide humanitarian assistance.

“The operation could have taken one of several courses depending on the situation found on site. Approximately 100 migrant workers were found to be housed in grossly unsuitable and unsafe premises and the partner agencies had no option but to immediately close the premises with emergency prohibition orders and transport the occupants to a reception centre.” – Flintshire County Council’s Chief Executive Colin Everett said.

Due to the large number of people involved the council had to open a second emergency reception centre in addition to the main reception centre which had already been planned as part of the operation

Mr Everett continued:

“The migrant workers were cooperative and many have expressed their relief that they are now able to access welfare advice and support having lived in such horrendous conditions.

“The main reception centre is a specialist one elsewhere in the region.  The second reception centre is in Holywell Leisure Centre. The Leisure Centre is listed in our emergency plans to be used as a reception centre in an emergency and was able to be made available at short notice.  

The reception centres are expected to be in use for several days.

The longer term plan for the workers involves either repatriation to their home country, dispersal to work elsewhere in the UK, or their re-location.

All of the migrant workers involved are European nationals and none were found to be illegal immigrants. 

Temporary rehousing options are being offered to those who wish to remain locally however, the council are stressing none of the available options the workers will are being offered involve allocating council and other social housing properties for which there are waiting lists.

The premises in Sealand are no longer able to be used now that prohibition notices have been served and prosecution action against the owners is under consideration. 

Planning Application

Earlier this month a planning application for a ‘Change of use to residential hostel for locally employed workers’ had been submitted to Flintshire County Council in relation to the building where many of the workers were seen both on a top floor balcony and around the entrance with suitcases and bags. 

In the application, which is currently in a consultation phase, it states the buildings have been used for a number of years as for casual residency and at present approximately 50 people occupy the property on a short term basis – The building has the capacity to house up to 60 persons, its not known how many of the 100 workers were found in this one building.

The planning statement goes onto say:

‘The property has been inspected by officers of the Flintshire Environmental Health and North Wales Fire Services. In the past, certain matters were found lacking and the owner has tried to work with them to remove their concerns. To the best of his knowledge there are no matters of fundamental concern at present.’

‘The occupiers are generally employed in the surrounding agricultural businesses which clearly cannot function without a mobile work force. Some of the workers are immigrants from parts of the European Community and are often on relatively low wages.’ 

Migrant workers at Holywell Leisure Centre: I’ve raised this with FCC & been told this is a second emergency reception centre & is temporary

— Mark Isherwood (@MarkIsherwoodAM) March 23, 2015

Concern in Holywell

There has been concern expressed by Holywell residents about the leisure centre being used an emergency shelter, one popular Holywell based facebook page posted comments about the situation, there followed a tirade of emotionally charged comments, many extremely negative and some quite shocking comments.

Flintshire County Council say they will be making further statements throughout the week.