11 May 2023 , 09:00
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Hundreds of asylum seekers will be housed in a giant barge off the Dorset coast over the coming months - but what do YOU think about the temporary accommodation?
The 222-bedroom, three-story vessel - named the Bibby Stockholm barge - will house around 500 single male asylum seekers in the Isle of Portland, where she will be berthed.
Currently docked in Falmouth, Cornwall, the 305ft barge is expected to be ready for use this summer and will be operational for at least 18 months.
According to the Home Office, the vessel will be “basic” with catering facilities, healthcare provision and 24/7 security, at a reported cost of £20,000 a day. Rishi Sunak said the move will “save the taxpayer money” and “reduce the pressure on hotels in communities up and down the country”.
The Prime Minister added: “We are spending, as a country, £6million a day housing illegal asylum seekers in hotels – that can’t be right. I’ve committed to reducing that number, moving asylum seekers out of hotels – and that means we need to find alternative sites, including barges.
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“That’s going to save the taxpayer money, reduce pressure on hotels and it’s part of our broader plan to stop the boats.”
Around 45,755 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year, while more than 6,000 have arrived so far this year. However, the government is facing backlash from human rights campaigners and charities who said the accommodation is not appropriate for people fleeing war.
The 10,659-ton mega-vessel has been refurbished since it was described as an “oppressive environment” when the Dutch government used it to house asylum seekers. The plan has also been criticised by South Dorset MP Richard Drax, who has raised concerns about keeping hundreds of people in a “very restricted area”, which he said would place pressure on the port’s “very small police force.”
Speaking to Sky News, he said those being accommodated on the barge would be bussed in from the port to nearby Portland Harbour, which is a "summer resort dependent almost entirely on visitors and tourists" with busy beaches not far away.
Do you think asylum seekers should be accommodated on barges? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
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