Residents of Piddington, a small village in Oxfordshire, England, are expressing deep concern over a planned asylum seeker camp, fearing its capacity could more than triple from the officially stated number. Newly uncovered documents suggest the military barracks on the outskirts of the village could house up to 3,510 men, a significant increase from the 1,256 initially proposed.
The Home Office has stated that the document citing the larger figure is an early draft risk assessment and not indicative of final plans. However, residents point out that the document, dated March of the current year, remains online and unamended, fueling distrust.
Piddington, with a population of approximately 350 residents, including 46 children, has been the focal point of local opposition to the proposed camp. The village lacks basic amenities such as a pub or a shop, leading to anxieties about the practicality and safety of housing such a large number of asylum seekers.
"Although the proposal states 1,256 single males between the ages of 18 and 65, the service users focuses on 3,510," said Tim McNally, chair of Piddington Parish Council. "That is ten times the size of the village of Piddington. Now if that is an error, correct it. This is more than alarming. It is either deception at the greatest level or incompetence at the highest."
Melise Witkin, a resident, voiced safety concerns, stating, "This is not about being rich or poor, this is about safety... We are 356 people in the village with 46 children and 1,250 men turning up is a recipe for disaster."
Karen Joy, another resident, echoed these sentiments, saying, "We feel we have been ignored... We are a very small village and there is nothing for the people in the asylum camp to do. Our worry is that they will wander into our village and the security is nil."
The village is planning a symbolic referendum on September 15 to vote on leaving the UK as part of their ongoing protests against the camp.
Recent discussions have highlighted disparities in the distribution of asylum seekers across the UK. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously advocated for more affluent areas to host asylum seekers, arguing that "all parts of the country need to play their part." An analysis of Home Office figures from March indicated that 17 local authorities, many of them rural and scenic areas, had no taxpayer-supported asylum seekers.
A Home Office spokesperson stated, "It is categorically untrue to suggest we are seeking to house 3,510 people at MOD Bicester. As our planning application clearly states, we are considering the site to accommodate up to 1,256 asylum seekers."