Andy Carter is Warrington South MP and writes a regular column for the Warrington Guardian

I can’t recall a local issue that I have received a greater amount of correspondence about in such a short time period as the decision by Home Office Officials to house asylum seekers at the Fir Grove Hotel in Grappenhall.

The decision by the hotel owners to cancel bookings and earmark this accommodation for asylum seekers came completely out of the blue to both myself and Warrington Borough Council. Officials have completely failed to listen to the views of local residents, elected representatives or statutory consultees. I don’t believe we can accept this decision, it is neither fair nor just that these kind of changes can be forced onto local areas without residents having a say.

Had we been consulted about the decision beforehand we would have laid out in full our arguments against this proposed site and the clear rationale behind our objections. The Fir Grove Hotel is a totally unsuitable location for housing asylum seekers. It is a building which is situated in a residential area, less than 200 yards from a primary school and without the necessary services nearby. It is totally understandable that local residents are rightly concerned and angry at the manner in which this decision has been taken.

Warrington is a town which prides ourselves on our generosity to those seeking refuge. Over the past two years, we have become home to approximately 3,000 Hong Kongers fleeing oppression from the Chinese Communist Party following their imposition of the Hong Kong national security law, in clear violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984. Many residents have also extended a warm invitation to well over 200 Ukrainians forced to leave their country following Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion, as well as other refugees who have escaped conflict elsewhere in the world.

However, there is no hiding from the fact that with that generosity comes an impact on public services. We have had to find school places for nearly a thousand additional children who have settled in Warrington with their families. Health services in our town are already under pressure from high demand and an aging population, which is why I continue to press the Government for funding for better healthcare provision and a new hospital.

I am particularly concerned at the number of economic migrants who are coming to this country, travelling through safe countries, originating from safe countries and entering the UK illegally. The system for assessing asylum applications is taking too long and we have to take steps to stop these evil gangs preying on vulnerable individuals who want a better life for their families.

I am working closely with the borough council to do everything we can to reverse the plans for this hotel and to ensure that future decisions like this are not steamrollered through by Home Office officials. On Monday in the House of Commons I questioned the Immigration Minister, Robert Jenrick, who agreed to meet with me to discuss the Fir Grove decision.

My job as the MP for Warrington South is to represent the views of people living in my constituency. At the very least it is discourteous to Warrington residents who are impacted by decisions like this, that there was no meaningful consultation by civil servants in London, who have no understanding of our town or its needs. I firmly believe this decision taken by the Home Office is wrong, I have not hesitated to call it out and I will fight to oppose it at every corner.

As ever, if I or my team can be of assistance please drop an email to andy.carter.mp@parliament.uk