Residents in the Shropshire village of Stoke Heath are protesting plans to house more than 80 asylum seekers in a new housing development, which has been dubbed 'Migrant Street' by locals. Villagers state they were initially informed the newbuild homes were intended for affordable local housing but have since learned that 21 properties have been allocated to asylum seekers. This shift in purpose has led to feelings of betrayal and anger among the community.
One asylum-seeking family, who moved into the development two weeks prior to the Daily Mail's reporting, expressed a desire to leave due to the location's remoteness and reported hostility from some residents. Muhammad Nadeem, his wife Shamaila, and their four children relocated from Stockport after fleeing Pakistan two years ago due to safety concerns. They are now housed in a four-bedroom property on the estate but reported incidents of abuse and intimidation shortly after their arrival. Security guards now patrol the neighborhood, and the family has been provided with an alarm system.
Mr. Nadeem, 40, highlighted the logistical and financial challenges of the remote location, noting the nearest supermarket is four miles away, with a round-trip taxi costing approximately £20. He also expressed concern over accessing essential services, such as his GP, which is also four miles distant. The family receives £295 per week from the Home Office for six people, a sum he feels is insufficient to cover transportation costs for necessities.
Local residents, like Emma O'Sullivan, a mother of three, feel they were misled about the nature of the housing development. She stated that the homes were built a year ago and remained empty until the asylum seekers began arriving. "We were told that the new development would be social houses which was fine but no one moved in for a year. Now we're told they will be used for asylum seekers and they're not part of the social housing at all. We feel like we've been lied to," O'Sullivan said.
Another resident, Jackie Jefferies, who has lived in Stoke Heath for over 30 years, pointed out the difficulty for local families to find housing. "My daughter has come back home and she can't get any housing here but if you're an asylum seeker then you can move right in," she commented. The area's Member of Parliament, Mark Pritchard, has voiced strong opposition to the plan, citing the village's isolation and limited public services as unsuitable for housing asylum seekers on this scale. Shropshire Council has also conveyed its concerns to the Home Secretary and is awaiting a response.
The government maintains that the relocation of asylum seekers into new properties is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on hotels and manage accommodation costs more effectively. A Home Office spokesperson stated that the department is working to disperse asylum seekers across the country in consultation with local authorities, aiming to deliver better value for taxpayers and return control to communities.
Serco, the private company involved in acquiring properties for asylum seeker accommodation, operates under the Home Office's directives regarding placement decisions and the number of individuals to be housed in specific areas.