Residents of Epping have pledged to maintain their demonstrations outside a controversial asylum accommodation facility, despite describing themselves "just mums and dads" who are concerned about their children' safety.
The community's resolve comes as a High Court decision looms over whether asylum seekers can continue to be accommodated at the Bell Hotel.
Local mother Lindsey Thompson told GB News that residents were "not natural protesters" but rather "hard-working people just mums and dads" who had been compelled to take action.
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Local mother Lindsey Thompson told GB News that residents were "not natural protesters"
|GB NEWS
She explained that leaving work early to stand on street corners chanting "save our kids" represented a significant departure from their normal lives.
Speaking to GB News, Mrs Thompson said: "To be clear, we are genuinely good people who want a lovely town. We would welcome anyone vetted, safe, and willing to join our community.
"But the fact is, we don’t know anything about the people arriving or why. As a parent, our primary concern is keeping our children and town safe."
Thompson revealed that parents had received correspondence from schools advising vigilance after pupils were approached in the town centre.
Her 17-year-old daughter reported men regularly sitting in alleyways observing students walking home.
She explained: "I had an interesting conversation with my 17-year-old about this. I said 'we’ve got a letter from school. It’s a duty of care look out for men approaching you after school.'
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"And she said, ‘well, what men?’ My daughter mentioned that a man stopped and chatted with her in the high street, and I asked, ‘What did he look like?’ I said, ‘That’s our old gardener that’s not just any man in Epping.’
"I also asked if she noticed any strangers coming home from school, and she said, ‘Yes, every day they sit in the alleyway and watch us.’"
She added: "I think the reality for us living in Epping is that we’re not natural protesters. We’re hard-working people just mums and dads.
"So, for us to leave work early, stand on the street corner, and chant ‘save our kids’ has been a massive shift for us."
Protesters gathered outside of The Bell Hotel | PAEpping Forest District Council launched legal proceedings seeking a temporary court order to prevent migrants from residing at the Bell Hotel, arguing the establishment has violated planning regulations.
The local authority maintains the property should function as a conventional hotel rather than accommodation for asylum seekers.
During Friday's High Court hearing, council representatives described the current arrangement as creating circumstances that "could not be much worse."
Council barristers emphasised the urgency of implementing restrictions before pupils return from summer holidays.
Mr Justice Eyre was scheduled to deliver his verdict at 2pm on Tuesday, having already prohibited the hotel from accepting additional asylum seeker residents pending his decision.
The demonstrations erupted following criminal charges against hotel residents, including 38-year-old Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu who faces allegations of attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
The Ethiopian national, who resided at the facility when the alleged incident occurred, has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial this month.