Asylum seekers were due to move into a town centre hotel yesterday despite concerns from the community.

The Waverley Hotel in Whitehaven is housing the asylum seekers in a scheme between the new hotel owners and Serco, which provides accommodation for immigrants while their asylum is processed.

The hotel had been family-run for the last 38 years but was sold and handed over to new owners, who are understood to be from Liverpool, last Monday.

Between 29 and 34 asylum seekers are to be housed in the hotel but Serco and The Home Office have declined to confirm which country they are from.

Copeland's MP and Elected Mayor said they were only recently informed of the private arrangement and the council was not consulted on the matter.

Michael Delaney, the licencee of Gallagher’s nightclub which is opposite The Waverley Hotel, and the Snecklifter pub on Duke Street, said: “I don’t think it’s going to help the town at all, to be honest.

“I understand that people need to go somewhere but the town is struggling enough with Covid and the increase in tax. I don’t think it’s going to be beneficial at all. Plus it was a decent hotel.

“People aren’t happy. If I apply for a 3 o’clock licence, it’s got to be approved by the police and council. I can guarantee they will object straightaway.

“But something like that is granted straightaway. It’s a bit frustrating.”

READ MORE: Asylum seekers set to move into The Waverley Hotel in Whitehaven early next week

Brian O’Kane, who represents Hillcrest on Copeland Council and Whitehaven Central North on Whitehaven Town Council, said it was difficult balancing the needs of the asylum seekers with the needs of the town.

He said: “It is difficult. So many people have negative views and so many people have positive views because they do want to help folk who are struggling elsewhere.

“It’s a shame that the town is being told to react positively to the Government’s request. It isn’t a request. It’s come from the Government. The council has no choice in the matter.

“The only reservation I have is the choice of the street where it’s the nighttime economy. Anything controversial may impact on the businesses in that area.

“It’s not that the town wants to shirk its responsibilities, I think people are reacting because of the choice of venue.

“It’s a shame that the Government haven’t reacted to give permission for the mine as quickly as this because both issues are really important to the town.”

'We have all got to look after each other'

Graham Roberts, who represents the Harras ward on Whitehaven Town Council and Bransty on Cumbria County Council, said: “From a humanitarian approach, we are all in the same boat now. We have all got to look after each other.

"I feel very sorry for them. We have got to do our bit in this country.

“It’s not the best place in the town. It’s a trouble spot. There’s fighting on a Friday and Saturday night. We have got a tinder box on our hands.

“We have got people coming to this country for refuge and I’m not sure we can give them that in a cost-of-living crisis.”

Jordan Mattinson, a community fundraiser who has previously run a campaign to help provide food to struggling families, said: “It’s all been done very sneakily. Surely there are more suitable places to house these asylum seekers rather than the town centre in an historic building.

“For a town that was slowly starting to build back up the town centre especially the harbour front, this feels like a really big step back. It’s all been kept silent until it’s too late for the public to even have a say.”

'We are committed to playing our part'

A joint statement from Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland, and Mike Starkie, Elected Mayor of Copeland said: “We have very recently been informed of the private arrangement between the Home Office and a new hotel owner, to house asylum seekers in The Waverley Hotel, Whitehaven.

“We would like to make it clear to the public that the council has not received any financial incentive for this initiative, and has not been consulted on the matter, before the agreement was made between the private hotel owner and the contractor for the provision of government services.

“However, we are committed to playing our part, where we can, to secure the best possible outcome for all involved.

“Now that we are aware of the matter, we will be reaching out to the new hotel owners to ensure all the correct licences are in place, if needed, and will be regularly meeting with the agencies responsible for the programme, to ensure it runs smoothly.

“This includes meetings with Cumbria Constabulary, The Home Office and Cumbria County Council.

“We hope to meet with the asylum seekers personally, to help agencies reinforce our expectations for their stay in the borough and hear their stories.

“We are also speaking to colleagues across the country to learn from their experience and ensure that we have the right things in place for both our residents and visitors, where it is our place to do so.

“We look forward to updating residents as the situation progresses, and we meet the people involved.”

READ MORE: The Waverley Hotel in Whitehaven set to house asylum seekers after being sold