Rishi Sunak urges Government to axe plans for migrant camp in North Yorkshire village

Exclusive:Linton-on-Ouse: Rishi Sunak urges Government to axe plans for migrant camp at ex-RAF base

The Government failed with a similar asylum camp plan at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in 2022, after the site failed to meet the technical specification required.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has joined calls urging the Government to think again about using a former military base in a small North Yorkshire village as an asylum centre.

Mr Sunak is part of a cross-party group of MPs that has signed a letter from council leader Coun Carl Les saying that RAF Linton-on-Ouse “is unsuitable both for the people who would be housed there and for the local community”.

Ministers have pledged to do “whatever it takes” to close asylum hotels and are braced for a battle over plans to move the migrants into former military barracks.

Linton-on-Ouse: Campaigners pictured outside Linton-on-Ouse Village Hall in 2022 will be preparing once again to put across their message to Government that proposals to house over a thousand asylum seekers there is the wrong plan in the wrong place. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

RAF Linton-on-Ouse is one of three MoD sites where the Home Office is seeking planning permission to turn it into a camp for around 1,300 asylum seekers.

It said: “We fully recognise the government's stated obligations towards those seeking asylum.

“Our concerns are not directed at asylum seekers themselves, nor do they diminish the need for a fair, humane and effective asylum system.

“Rather, our position is that the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse site is the wrong location for a large-scale asylum accommodation centre.”

Former prime Minister Rishi Sunak served as chancellor from February 2020 to July 2022 (PA)

This was due to lack of transport links and electricity and water issues. Since then, Linton-on-Ouse has lost its main shop.

The letter continued: “The area has limited amenities, services, employment opportunities and support networks. It is remote from major settlements and relies on rural roads that can be vulnerable to flooding and disruption.

“In the council's view, neither the village nor the surrounding area possesses the infrastructure normally required to support a development of this scale and nature.

“Based on current information, it could be around 1,250 single adult males who will be accommodated on the site at any one time, more than twice the population of the host village.

A sign for RAF Linton-on-Ouse. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

“Such a concentration of residents would be unprecedented in a rural community of this size and would inevitably place significant pressure on local infrastructure, services and communities.”

As well as Mr Sunak, the letter is signed by Conservative Party Chair and Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresbrough Tom Gordon and Labour’s York Central MP Rachael Maskell.

The Government has said no decision has yet been made, explaining: “This will only be taken once all necessary arrangements, assessments and approvals are in place.”

In a letter to the Home Affairs Committee, Ms Turley’s predecessor Alex Norris said: “A key consideration will be identifying and implementing effective mitigations to minimise impacts on the local community, recognising the importance of addressing concerns previously raised.

“Our priority is to ensure that any accommodation that we do progress is safe, appropriate, and supports the effective and orderly management of the asylum system, while being responsive to the needs of the local area.”