Following the news that the Home Office intend to keep Wethersfield operational beyond 2027 and permanently expand it by 55 per cent.
Here's a statement from Braintree District Council's Leader, Cllr Tom Cunningham, on the announcement:
"We are bitterly disappointed that, after more than three years of having the UK's largest asylum accommodation centre imposed on this district, it appears it will now stay for an indeterminate amount of time.
To compound this, the site will go from a standard capacity of 800 to 1,245, placing sustained strain on the community.
Since March 2023, when the Home Office first told us of their plans, we have been clear that this disused airbase, in a very rural area, does not have the infrastructure to support a site of this scale.”
This decision will be deeply concerning for a community that has responded to an unprecedented situation with patience, dignity and pragmatism.
We have been let down once again by the Home Office, particularly given previous indications from the Prime Minister that Wethersfield would close.
Alongside partners, we have raised more than 1,400 points of discussion with the Home Office in an effort to mitigate the impact of this site.
Much of this work reflects the local level of concern, which has been proliferated by inconsistent and insufficient engagement with the public.
Misinformation and disinformation have been allowed to spread unchecked and it has been left to authorities like ours to pick up the pieces of a situation beyond our control.
We are urgently seeking more details on these proposals and will now carefully scrutinise the legislation the government intends to use to extend the use of this site for the third time.
At the same time, despite being treated with contempt by this government, we will continue to work constructively with the Home Office and partners to support a safe, well-managed site and secure the best possible outcomes for our communities.”
