THE proposed asylum seeker centre at Throckmorton is rarely out of the news and today's paper carries a number of stories related to this hot topic.

But it will be the fact that a top refugee expert is suggesting that local residents should welcome the asylum seekers with open arms that will raise most eyebrows.

The representative from The Refugee Council has called for county poulation to "get involved" in activities to support the "campers" when the centre is established.

The key word in this statement is "when" and we have to ask: Does she know something we don't?

In her remarks, Ms Juliet Olivo stressed that she thought it the responsibility of locals to accept the incomers and help to integrate them into the community.

Well, there has not been much sign of that type of thinking so far. All our reports have been about the total rejection of this idea.

While always trying to look at all sides in the complex arguments that flow from this topic, this paper has not seen much sign from anyone in the nearby town and villages that they are inclined to welcome the asylum-seekers.

What we are concerned with is that key word "when".

Since this plan was first mooted, there have been some that have said publicly that it was a done deal, and various Governmental statements have tended to support this view.

This weekend, the local residents are again publicly protesting against the scheme.

Let us hope that, at least, someone is listening to their arguments.

At this stage, it should still be "if" and not "when".