Asylum seekers moving out of hotels could be delayed because of 'unsafe' barracks

The Cameron Barracks in Inverness is currently poised to receive 300 asylum seekers as part of the Government’s efforts to end the use of costly hotels across the country.

However, new documents reveal the major renovations at the disused base are due to begin in January, far beyond the state’s target of rehoming the migrants by the end of November.

The works total £1.3million in renovations, including the removal of asbestos, refitting the site’s boiler, and a full refurbishment of accommodation blocks.

£1million of the contract covers a full redecoration of the 12 accommodation and support buildings on the site, including new flooring and the stripping out of fixtures.

Home Office sources have now suggested the vital safety work could delay the Government’s original timetable.

Insiders suggest moving migrants in ahead of these repairs could open the state to legal action similar to that lodged last month by nearly 200 migrants at the Manston processing centre in Dover, claiming mistreatment.

Last month, it was revealed that the Government could be liable for millions of pounds of compensation to migrants "unlawfully" detained in "inhumane" conditions.

“Lessons have been learned from inherited acquisitions of large sites under the previous government, which we are implementing to inform our future accommodation procurement,” a Home Office source told The Times.

The potential delay compounds the pressure of the Government as the plans to move asylum seekers into Cameon Barracks, close to Inverness city centre, have faced major local backlash.

Fergus Ewing, the independent MSP for Inverness and Nairn, reflected concerns from his constituents that the move could endanger women and girls.

He said: “Many constituents have told me they are particularly worried about the proposed accommodation of several hundred men in such a central location, close to residential areas.

“They are especially concerned for the safety of women and girls. These concerns are about safety and community capacity — not prejudice — and they must be taken seriously."

Angus MacDonald, the MP for Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire, described the barracks as “not an appropriate location to house a large number of migrants”.

He said: “Cameron Barracks is surrounded by housing and only a ten-minute walk to the high street. It is secured only by a modest fence. Will security still be maintained by the army?

“There is a risk that this causes major upheaval in the city centre while only housing a tiny fraction of the numbers awaiting processing."

Further south, similar proposals to relocate around 600 migrants to an army training camp in Crowborough, East Sussex, have also been slammed.

Nusrat Ghani, the local Conservative MP, told GB News she was "really disgusted" with the plans due to a lack of transparency from the Liberal Democrat and Green Party run Wealden district council.

"The reason why we're really disgusted with what's happened today is the first time we heard about it was via The Times newspaper, then the Today programme ringing us. Nobody from the Home Office contacted us," she fumed.

"What's been really depressing is that the Home Office have been negotiating or in talks with the district council, who've known for a month," the MP explained to The People's Channel.

Ms Ghani has now launched a Parliamentary petition to block the move, citing the potential pressure on public services and community cohesion.

Despite the setbacks, Downing Street is determined to pursue the plans to house asylum seekers in barracks to quell public anger over the issue and discourage migrants from making illegal journeys in the hope of receiving “luxury” accommodation.

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