Assurances sought that Fort Blockhouse will 'never be considered' as an arrival centre for migrants
Reform UK Gosport calls extraordinary council meeting following recent migrant arrivals
Assurances are being sought that Fort Blockhouse will never be considered for use as an arrival centre for migrants crossing the channel.
It comes as concerns over the recent use of Eastney as an arrival point for migrants collected in the Channel are to be debated at an extraordinary meeting of Gosport Borough Council.
The meeting will take place next Tuesday (September 22), with proposals by Reform UK for Gosport Borough Council to write to the Home Secretary to ask why nearby Eastney was chosen as to the location to direct RNLI crews to take the 120 migrants.
It also asks for the Home Office to ’seek answers on the record as to why Eastney was selected’, as well as ‘seek assurances that facilities such as Fort Blockhouse are never considered as a temporary arrival facility should another mega dinghy appear in the Solent’.
As previously reported by The News, this led to a ten-hour stand-off with around 200 protesters blocking the route out of Eastney delaying the group - who had traveled from Cherbourg - being taken to the processing centre in Kent.
During the protest seven police officers received minor injuries and a number of vehicles parked in the area were damaged, with the Government condemning "intimidating and thuggish" behaviour, including vitriol directed at RNLI volunteers.
Police have since released images of six men wanted in connection with disorder at Eastney and have charged one man with violent public disorder. A 16-year-old boy is also on police bail after being arrested in connection with the protest.
The motion by Reform calls for Hampshire Police, the fire service, RNLI and ambulance service to be officially thanked ‘for their handling of an operation Portsmouth did not choose, noting that ‘the operation was concluded without serious injury to any police officer, any member of the emergency services or any member of the public’.
Cllr Paul Carter, Group Leader of Reform UK Gosport, said that the group was putting forward its motion in the capacity of the Conservative council’s opposition party to highlight local concerns felt by many local residents.
He said: "We have submitted a motion for the council to consider, covering resident concerns, local authority responsibilities, community protection measures, and transparent communication. Local people deserve clear answers regarding safety, service capacity, and council action.”
“Reform UK Gosport is the only political group putting community safety at the forefront of this issue."
The motion also calls for Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage to “state publicly that they do not regard Gosport residents who hold concerns about small boat arrivals as racists or thugs”.
The route taken by the 120 migrants, who had been in the water for ten hours to make the crossing, is considered unusual with most attempting the crossing heading for the shorter distance to Dover.
But it is thought a police crackdown in France resulted in the criminal gangs facilitating the crossings heading further west along the French coast as a starting point.
Gosport Borough Council’s extraordinary meeting takes place on September 22 at 6pm in the Council Chamber at Gosport Borough Council Town Hall. Meanwhile a similar extraordinary meeting of Portsmouth City Council will take place on September 23 at 5.30pm.