A MEETING will take place next week for residents of Grappenhall to learn more about asylum seekers moving into the Fir Grove.

As the Warrington Guardian revealed last week, the hotel has closed and been leased to the Home Office for a year.

Warrington Borough Council has put together a multi-disciplinary team to ensure that the families are given the support that they will need during their stay in Warrington.

Helen Speed and Mark Browne, Liberal Democrat borough councillors for the Grappenhall and Appleton Thorn ward, which covers the hotel, are working closely with the local authority team and visited the hotel twice over the weekend.

They made contact with Serco, who will be responsible for the care of the families staying there and sought assurance about the care of future residents. They are working with Serco staff who also want to ensure a strong two-way dialogue is developed with local residents.

Cllr Speed said: “Although the circumstances in the setting up of the hotel for asylum seekers were not ideal, it is a humanitarian situation that requires us all to pull together to ensure they are well treated while they are here.

"We recognise that some people want to make donations and suggest taking them to CARE UK Charity's Home Store at Cockhedge in the old TK Maxx store.

"We have set up a meeting for residents at 7.30pm on November 18 at Grappenhall Methodist Church and will be advertising this meeting through social media and leaflets to nearby houses.“

Cllr Mark Browne added: “We will do our utmost to ensure that people locally are kept informed of what is happening at the hotel. We understand that unfortunately some of the staff have lost their jobs due to the changed circumstances, but we are pleased to hear that some have found new posts in the hospitality sector.

"We now understand that the immigration minister recognises that consultation with local authorities has been inadequate and that steps have been taken to correct this in the future.”