Residents scared and annoyed as Home Office wins Scampton court case

The council’s legal efforts to get a temporary injunction failed at the High Court last week.

The Home Office is free to continue preparations at RAF Scampton while more challenges are heard, with asylum seekers allowed to move onto the site from Monday, July 3.

The historic site will ultimately be able to accommodate up to 2000 people.

Tracey Fyfe, aged 62, expressed her concern over the safety of her two children and said she is keen to move away from the village following the news.

“We were promised this wasn’t going to happen,” she said.

“Everyone knew in the end the government would win the legal battle, but it’s just not right.”

“I just worry because my two children are autistic and you’ve got all these men coming on site and they don’t understand they can’t go off with strangers.”

Another resident, who declined to be named, said he also wanted to move away, but could not as the plans have devalued his property, leaving him stuck.

He said: “I’ve lost all the value in my house and nothing has even happened yet. It’s just taken away our future. We can’t go anywhere.

“If it comes, we’re stuck; if it doesn’t, will anyone want to buy the house anyway?”

Roger Stevens, 68, said: “It’s unfair for the migrants to be housed in what can only be called a concentration camp.

“I’m not against migrants, but I think it should be sorted out at the source, rather than trying to find accommodation for them across the country.

“On the other side of it, it’s a shame that it has put a £300 million project in the bin.”

Some residents also questioned why the base was chosen for such accommodation.

Renate Ingram, 65, said: “I understand that these people need to go somewhere but come on, we’re in the middle of nowhere.”

However, another resident said he felt the ‘Save Our Scampton’ movement was an “overreaction”.

“I think the refugee policy isn’t a bad idea in itself, because there needs to be a place to house these people,” he said.

“Having it on the doorstep of a residential area isn’t the best idea. There is Kirton Lindsey up the road, which is completely uninhabited.

“But, as I said, I think there is a lot of overreaction based on the worst-case scenario, and I think a lot of that could come from people trying to claim it’s all fighting-age people coming here. It’s fear-mongering.”

During the High Court hearing. West Lindsey Council officials criticised the Home Office’s plans to house migrants at the historic site, describing it as “perverse”.

The council sought an urgent injunction to prevent it from going ahead, arguing that it has scuppered a £300 million heritage, tourism and enterprise project, which would have created thousands of highly-skilled jobs.

The court ultimately ruled in favour of the government. However, councillors insist they will continue to fight the decision.