In late March, discussions between Portland Port and the Home Office about placing an asylum seeker barge in Portland Port were brought to the attention of Dorset Council. This move was met with immediate objections, as the Council was not consulted and believed Portland to be an unsuitable location for the barge.
Dorset Council and the local MP Richard Drax have been made aware of conversations between the Home Office and the owners of Portland Port to site floating accommodation for asylum seekers in the port.
We have serious concerns about the suitability of the location for this facility.
The council has had limited input and has no decision-making powers on this.
Dorset Council
Despite these objections, a contract for the asylum seeker barge was signed by the Home Office and Portland Port in early April. Residents were notified of this development only through a leaflet circulated a week before the expected arrival of the barge, the Bibby Stockholm, in June.
In response to the decision, Dorset Council established a Multi-Agency Forum (MAF), consisting of representatives from various public sector agencies, Portland Port, and the Home Office. The MAF is tasked with ensuring minimal impact on local services, communities, and businesses, and providing provisions for health services, transport, waste, and safety measures for local residents and asylum seekers.
In the meantime, local residents and community leaders expressed frustration over the lack of communication and consultation. Many felt their concerns were not being heard by the Council, Portland Port Authority, or the Home Office, despite promises for future meetings as part of a “wider community information” programme.
Some residents have warned about the potential for misinformation and discriminatory comments due to this lack of information. Darren Boudreau said he plans to join a local group designed to voice concerns. He said a lack of information was leading to comments on Facebook he described as “quite racist and xenophobic”.
The community here are very narrow-minded. I’ve never lived somewhere where it kicks off so quickly.
Darren Boudreau
The Council also considered legal action against the Home Office’s decision but decided against it based on legal advice and potential costs. They were advised that the Government had no duty to consult them and that a legal challenge would have been unlikely to succeed in relation to the asylum seeker barge.
The barge, which will house 500 single adult males claiming asylum in the UK, is expected to dock in Dorset for at least 18 months. Meanwhile, the Home Office stated that it is exploring alternative large-scale sites across the country for more appropriate and cost-effective accommodation for asylum seekers.
Looking ahead, Dorset Council has committed to continue working with the Home Office and its partners for the smooth operation of the asylum seeker barge with minimal impact on public services, local residents, and businesses. They are also negotiating with the Home Office for full funding of all associated costs with the barge’s operation. The Council emphasises that it does not want its residents and services to be negatively impacted by this situation, financially or otherwise.
As the asylum seeker barge, Bibby Stockholm, nears its docking at Portland Port, the community awaits more information and clarity about the implications of this unprecedented arrangement. The Council and Portland Port Authority assure residents that plans are being developed and information will be shared as it becomes available. In these uncharted waters, the community, Council, and involved parties navigate the best course of action to balance the needs and concerns of Dorset residents with those of the asylum seekers soon to arrive.
Asylum seeker barge “factsheet”
In response to the controversy, the Government has released a Q & A style factsheet addressing asylum accommodation concerns.
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