A WORCESTER hotel is housing asylum seekers as part of a Home Office scheme.

Worcester City Council confirmed that The Fownes Hotel is currently being used to house asylum seekers in Worcester.

A Worcester City Council spokesman: “We are aware that the Home Office has contracted the Fownes Hotel for its use.”

According to the Home Office, asylum seekers can obtain support such as accommodation, whilst their asylum claims are being assessed.

Accommodation providers, in consultation with local authorities, are responsible for identifying suitable temporary accommodation that can be used for this purpose.

Providers have been allowed to use contingency accommodation, such as hotels, during peaks in demand.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are dealing with an unprecedented increase in asylum cases but, despite this, we continue to ensure that the accommodation provided is safe, secure and leaves no one destitute.

“The Home Office does not comment on operational arrangements for individual hotels.”

Cllr Alan Amos has claimed that the hotel is housing "124 people in 62 twin rooms" and has expressed fears the guests will take resources away from Worcester residents.

He said:" I heard about this a couple of weeks ago and it was told to be kept quiet. 

"The whole hotel has now been taken over.

"A few weeks ago we were told there were over 3,000 people on the housing waiting list and I believe these people need to be put first.

"I am expressing the views of the silent majority of Worcester and I feel people will be as outraged as I am that this has been kept quiet.

"The council were told on June 23 and officially I still have not been told by anyone."

READ MORE: Number of asylum seekers in hotels has almost trebled in the last year

New reports have suggested that the number of asylum seekers in hotels has almost trebled in the last year.

There were 26,380 migrants living in this type of temporary accommodation at the end of 2021 – compared to 9,421 at the start of that year, Home Office data obtained by the Refugee Council showed.

The responses to freedom of information requests revealed that, as of December, more than 200 hotels were in use and around 10% (about 2,500) of those staying in them were children.