Sandbach Heath hotel that has been housing asylum seekers for almost six years is being closed down.
The Chimney House Hotel was one of 13 across the country the Government announced for closure.
Congleton constituency MP Sarah Russell described the closure as “an important milestone” in the Government’s commitment to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers.
The announcement followed the closure of the Crewe Arms Hotel, opposite the train station in Crewe, in April, which became a target for anti-immigration and counter demonstrations last autumn.
In 2020, we reported that the Chimney House was housing almost 60 asylum seekers, placed there by Serco, the company used by the then Government.
Local churches were trying to support the occupants, who were isolated from the community due to the hotel’s rural location.
In February, MP for Crewe and Nantwich Connor Naismith wrote to the then Government minister for border security and asylum, Alex Norris, with “deep concerns” about the dignity and well-being of the asylum seekers who had been housed there.
He said: “These facilities were never intended for long-term accommodation, and the lack of suitable infrastructure has resulted in challenges for both residents and those housed in the hotels.
“This arrangement fails to provide stability, integration and support that asylum seekers need while they await the outcome of their claim.
“Moreover, the people of Crewe have faced the consequences of a system that was implemented without adequate consultation or transparency.”
The Chimney House joined the Grand Metropole in Blackpool and the Britannia Ashley Hotel in Altrincham in the latest wave of closures, along with the Goldthorn Hotel in Wolverhampton and the Grosvenor Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Recently, the Daresbury Hotel near Warrington re-opened as a four-star venue after housing migrants for several years.
The Government said the hotels closure scheme formed part of its pledge to put an end to all hotels being used to house migrants by the end of its term.
It said the latest round of closures were expected to save taxpayers £51 million, bringing the total expected savings for hotels closed this year to £224 million.
At its peak in 2023, the Home Office said 400 asylum hotels were in use at a cost of £9 million a day.
The Government said it was exploring a variety of short-, medium- and longer-term options to house those seeking asylum including student accommodation, Government-owned properties and former military sites, including one near Piddington in Oxfordshire.
Mrs Russell said: “The closure of the Chimney House is an important milestone, in line with Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitment to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers, and processing asylum claims more quickly.
“Reducing hotel use has been possible partly because small boat crossings are down by 43%, while the number of successful crossings is down by 49%.
“This is a result of extensive Government action to disrupt the vile people-smuggling trade, as well as improved law enforcement collaboration internationally.” She said the Government had also successfully reduced delays in initial decision-making on asylum applications.
“I would like to thank Refugees Welcome Cheshire East and our local churches for the support they provided to Chimney House residents, and their wider work within our community,” she said.
“I know the use of hotels and the backlog in asylum cases concern many residents. Effective immigration management depends on a system that can process claims promptly and fairly, and I will continue to raise that with ministers.”
• According to Sandbach History Society, the Chimney House Hotel was originally the vicarage for St John’s Church which was built in 1861.
In November 2014, it was sold to Talash Hotels from a guide price of £1.85 million. At the time, the sales particulars said the Tudor-style detached property was set within seven acres (2.8 hectares) of land and comprised 50 en-suite bedrooms plus a bar, restaurant and conference facilities.
