Epping Forest Council Denied Supreme Court Appeal Over Asylum Hotel

Epping Forest District Council has been denied permission by the Court of Appeal to appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the use of the Bell Hotel to house asylum seekers, a decision the council strongly opposes. The council argues that the Court of Appeal wrongly prioritized the Home Secretary's duties toward asylum seekers over local planning controls and the interests of residents, weakening the planning system and local democracy. Despite this setback, the council plans to pursue all legal options, including directly seeking Supreme Court permission and preparing for a full injunction hearing scheduled for early October. The Bell Hotel currently houses 138 asylum seekers, and the legal dispute has sparked weeks of protests and arrests, prompting council leader Chris Whitbread to call for calm and considerate demonstrations to reduce strain on the community. Whitbread emphasizes the council's representation of local residents' interests while urging protest organizers to respect the impact on local families and the economy as schools resume. The council remains committed to its efforts to close the hotel and enforce planning regulations.