Kilhey Court Hotel

It seems Kilhey Court Hotel in Standish is being converted to house asylum seekers.

https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/wigans-plushest-hotel-kilhey-court-is-to-house-asylum-seekers-4261135

The following texts have been posted on WW, I thought it was worth a viewing on here :-


It was McDonald hotels who made the final decision to house them there, not the government, not the council.

Obviously it seems, at least in this case that there is more money in accommodating asylum seekers than there is in their conventional business model, which if it’s like the hospitality industry in general will be failing.


Off FB

Protest in Wigan, hope our Chorley friends can join us.
please see below????
PLEASE SHARE
PROTEST WALK AGAINST. HOUSING UNVETTED YOUNG MIGRANT MEN AT THE KILHEY COURT HOTEL
SUNDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER
MEET 12 NOON IN
FRONT OF ST WILFRIDs
CHURCH
WALK TO KILHEY COURT
The people of Standish were not asked if they wanted hundreds of unvetted young migrants housed in their community.
The staff at Kilhey Court were not consulted about losing their jobs.
The people with weddings booked weren't asked if they minded having their long planned weddings cancelled.
The people who used the Gym and facilities weren't asked if they minded losing their facility and social meeting place.
The elderly people living in the nearby care home weren't asked if they wanted a couple of hundred young men housed next door to them.
Those on the 14,000 plus housing waiting list weren't asked if they fancied a few months at Kilhey Court.
Those facing eviction were offered a Travelodge room for the whole family.
The people of Wigan weren't asked if they minded having this extra burden on our hospitals , health service, doctors waiting lists etc.
Women and girls weren't asked if they were concerned for their safety with hundreds of young men from cultures with different attitudes to women being moved into the area.
We weren't asked we weren't even told, but we are paying through our taxes.
No money for bungalows for the elderly, homes for veterans, social housing for young families, but millions to house thousands of foreign young men in luxury hotels.
If you think this is wrong.
PLEASE turn up for the protest.
If you can't do the walk fine, just turn up for the start. Show you care.

I wish I was a lot younger, I’d be there.

I think the owners have been struggling to keep the hotel afloat,

"The owner Macdonald Hotels has confirmed that it is closing the complete operation “temporarily” and handing its running to SERCO – which is contracted by the Government to run such facilities – citing post-pandemic and cost-of-living crisis challenges for the commercial decision"

So I agree with "not the government, not the council" decision

“So I agree with "not the government, not the council" decision”.

You are correct Lolly but it seems nobody was consulted about the decision and its effect on the local community.
I bet none of Wigan’s councillors live in the area.
Let’s hope the protest has some impact, but the pessimist in me says it’s a done deal.

If the protest is successful then I would guess that the venue would close permanently. A big loss for the town.

I take your point Lolly re the Kilhey shutting down, but I bet if you polled the locals they would much prefer an empty building, which could be repurposed, than the chaos, disruption and problems which 200 unvetted foreign males would bring.
It would seem that the unfortunate employees of the Kilhey would lose their jobs if the hotel shut or was transferred to SERCO, so they are in a ‘lose-lose’ situation either way.

Locals will rightly be opposed RMJ. I just wonder what Macdonald hotels would be paying out if they just closed the hotel for commercial reasons. Not many have the money to spend on lavish weddings or gym membership etc due to the cost of living crisis, I shudder to think what the council tax or whatever tax is on the property. That still has to be paid. Where would their income come from? To my knowledge SERCO offer 5 year contracts.
P.S I had to pay council tax on my old property till it was sold. So two lots of Council tax.

Luke Marsden writes

"When I read Wigan Today’s exclusive revealing that owner Macdonald Hotels has decided to take SERCO money from the Home Office and started axing staff before the hotel is converted into exclusive asylum seekers' accommodation, I was disgusted"

https://www.wigantoday.net/news/opinion/columnists/luke-marsden-stop-using-wigan-as-an-asylum-seeker-dumping-ground-4265392

Aye and anyone who has got a wedding/reception/function booked there
has to told to find alternative venues even at short notice. When it goes back to normal functions the government/tax payer
has to cough up for it to be kitted out with brand new fixtures and fittings , furniture etc.

Lolly wrote:Luke Marsden writes

Why are we supposed to give a fig what Luke Marsden writes?

Not a clue who Luke Marsden is. I assumed he was a WT reporter.

Lolly wrote:Not a clue who Luke Marsden is.  I assumed he was a WT reporter.

He's from Wigan, was a Big Brother contestant, and wants to be a Tory councillor.

Thankfully I dont watch BBrother

Wigan asylum seeker hotel demonstration and counter-protest
Hundreds of people – including far right activists – gathered in a Wigan township to protest against plans to turn a second of its hotels into an asylum-seeker hostel.

https://www.wigantoday.net/news/politics/heavy-police-presence-as-hundreds-attend-wigan-asylum-seeker-hotel-demonstration-and-counter-protest-4278650

Thanks for tbat Lolly, let’s hope the protest has some impact.

Daily Mail coverage

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12475835/Hundreds-furious-villagers-stage-huge-protest-outside-luxury-four-star-spa-shut-turned-migrant-hotel-SECOND-area-start-housing-asylum-seekers.html

Wigan Council
@WiganCouncil
·
42m
Wigan Council continues to voice concerns about the proposed use of a hotel in Standish to house asylum seekers.

This is a Home Office decision.
Local authorities and partners receive confirmation once the decision has been made.

https://www.wigan.gov.uk/News/Articles/2023/Sept/FAQ-People-seeking-asylum.aspx

Wigan Council
@WiganCouncil
Wigan Council continues to urge the Home Office to reconsider its use of Kilhey Court, Standish, for asylum seeker accommodation

https://twitter.com/i/status/1701543755633803504

Wigan community group continues fight against use of hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers
A residents’ group is continuing its efforts to stop a Wigan hotel being used to house asylum seekers.

Standish Voice and Standish councillors are encouraging members the public to continue raising their concerns about the use of Kilhey Court to accommodate asylum seekers.

Emails can be sent to the Home Office and Macdonald Hotels, which owns Kilhey Court, at public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk and enquiries@macdonald-hotels.co.uk.

Standish Voice’s next meeting will be held at Albert’s on Tuesday, November 21 at 7.45pm and everyone who lives or works in Standish is welcome to attend.

https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/wigan-community-group-continues-fight-against-use-of-hotel-as-accommodation-for-asylum-seekers-4376774

Anyone who uses the above email options should also include a valid alternative other than "Not here"

One of Wigan’s migrant hotels is set to close imminently – but as things stand no-one knows which one.

https://www.wigantoday.net/news/politics/council/government-confirms-it-is-closing-one-of-wigans-asylum-hotels-but-which-one-4385773

Still no sign as to which hotel it is.

https://www.wigan.gov.uk/News/Articles/2023/Oct/Statement-October-26-2023.aspx

Maybe Kilhey Court Nothing Cast Iron


Clarification for the MP and Wigan Council was promised on Thursday but it failed to emerge and then it was even then suggested by the Home Office that there might have been an error in suggesting a Wigan establishment was in the first wave of closures.


https://www.wigantoday.net/news/politics/council/wigan-migrant-hotel-will-shut-within-weeks-it-is-confirmed-see-which-one-is-closing-4388265

Lisa has questions

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/lisa-nandy-demands-answers-after-28045102

Thanks for that Mickrick, good news for the locals.