The Government’s plan to house 500 migrants in a barge off the coast of Dorset is prompting local residents to move away, according to someone who lives in the area.
Taxpayers are set to be slapped with a bill of more than £20,000 a day as authorities prepare to make the three-storey Bibby Stockholm “basic and functional” for accommodation.
The plans have been met with vocal local opposition, including from Portland resident Alex, who told GB News some of his fellow locals are already plotting moves away from the area.
Speaking to Patrick Christys, he said: “We moved to Dorset in October last year from Dover, and the experiences we’ve had can only be described as nightmarish.
Alex says some residents have told him they are planning to move away from the area
GB News
“When it comes to this, there was no public consultation at all for these 500 single adult males who will be here for what I’ve been told 18 months.
“I know the matter has been discussed privately between the Home Office and the private port which I have been talking to Richard Drax MP about.
“From what I’ve seen, local residents are deeply concerned. They’re thinking of leaving the area and selling up.
“They’re fearful that their children will be in danger from the arrival of these single men, and some are even suggesting that this barge be towed out into the Channel.
Portland will play host to 500 migrants
PA
“Others are saying that it goes out into the Thames, outside Parliament. Or even better, not at all.”
Around-the-clock security is set to be pout in place in a bid to “minimise the disruption to local communities”, according to the Home Office.
The barge is currently in Italy, and the Home Officer plan to move people onto it in the “coming months”, with further vessels to be announced “in due course”.
Alex raised concerns as to where the migrants will go when they are released from the barge.
He told GB News: “How are they going to be released? Are they going to monitored? Where are they going to go? And what happens if they don’t return?
“None of these questions have been answered. Yes, the barge in itself will be a quasi-prison, where hundreds of men will be together at one time.
“What are they going to do? The port itself is restricted. What about their welfare? What happens if there is trouble onboard?
“Speaking to Richard Drax MP, none of these issues have been addressed so far. And there is concern.”
Around 51,000 asylum seekers are currently in temporary accomodation such as hotels as the Government tackles a backlog of claims.
Dorset Council said Home Secretary Suella Braverman is yet to address a “number of questions”.
“We still have serious reservations about the appropriateness of Portland Port in this scenario and we remain opposed to the proposals,” the local authority said in a statement.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the use of the barge, insisting it would “save the taxpayer money” while being a “fair” approach to tackling small boat crossings.
