Epping Council Denied Supreme Court Appeal Over Asylum Seeker Hotel

Epping Forest District Council's attempt to appeal a Court of Appeal ruling allowing The Bell Hotel to continue housing asylum seekers was denied permission to be taken directly to the Supreme Court, with no reasons provided for the refusal. The council had initially secured a temporary injunction from the High Court to force 138 asylum seekers to leave the hotel, but this was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which criticized the injunction as flawed and highlighted potential wider pressures on the asylum system. Despite the setback, the council remains committed to pursuing a final injunction in the High Court and may still seek permission from the Supreme Court to appeal. The council leader, Chris Whitbread, emphasized the strain on the local community and called for restraint in ongoing protests outside the hotel. The case reflects broader tensions in managing asylum seeker accommodation, with other councils considering similar legal actions but some, like Reading Borough Council, choosing not to pursue closures. The dispute also underscores the challenges in balancing planning regulations, community concerns, and government obligations to asylum seekers.