The government says housing asylum seekers in places like Bibby Stockholm will help reduce what they pay daily for hotel rooms.
- author, Dan Johnson in Dorset and Michael Shiels McNamee
- Role, BBC News
For the first time, journalists have been allowed on board the Barge Bibby Stockholm, the massive floating accommodation complex that will house asylum seekers in the UK.
The barge is moored off the port of Portland, in southwest England, and will become home to 500 single men seeking asylum in the European country in the coming weeks.
Walking aboard you feel like you are in an old ferry or old motel, like you are in a slightly faded environment of the 80’s and 90’s.
Long and confusing corridors lead to Relatively spacious cabins Which include a desk, wardrobe, safe, TV and large windows.
Each room has an en-suite shower room and there are additional facilities on each of the three floors.
Originally there were 222 cabins, but its capacity was increased to 506 after bunk beds were placed in each room.
The rooms don’t feel claustrophobic.
image source, means PA
There is a TV room with a large screen and sofas, a multi-denominational prayer room, and a classroom that can be used for meetings and activities.
Some of the other common spaces had been converted into extra bedrooms for four to six men, but we were not allowed to see them.
The dining room is large with tables for six people.
The sampler menu includes eggs and waffles for breakfast and potato soup and beef stew for dinner.
We were informed that it will change regularly and Meeting individual needs and religious requirements.
image source, means PA
A gym and outdoor entertainment space are located in the two courtyards in the center of the barge.
Men will also have access to the dock, inside a fenced area. They explained that this ensures the security of the port, where cruise ships, cargo ships and navy vessels dock.
There will be 24/7 security on board.
Men You will receive medical attention On board or remotely, it is being delivered by a team of experts, the NHS said, following concerns expressed by residents about the impact of more people on the local health service.
image source, means PA
image source, means PA
Buses will be available every hour between 09:00 and 23:00 to take asylum seekers to Portland or Weymouth. It’s not a curfew but if they don’t come back there will be a “care call” to check on them.
The government clearly wants to show that this housing is not cruel or inhuman, but the Home Office has always described it as “Basic and functional“.
It certainly doesn’t have the glamor of the ocean line: no grand staircase, great artwork, or sculptures. The stairs look quite industrial.
image source, means PA
image source, means PA
It’s light, clean, and actually looks comfortable.
Some of the journalists on our visit felt the standard was better than some of the hotels currently housing asylum seekers in the UK. Of course, our stay only lasted an hour.
Some of the men might stay on board for as long as nine months. Once it is filled to capacity, Circumstances may look very different.
The government says it is currently spending $7 million a day on hotel accommodation for more than 50,000 immigrants.
The Home Office says it aims by autumn to house about 3,000 asylum-seekers in sites other than hotels, such as the barge and former military sites Wethersfield in Essex and Scampton in Lincolnshire.
The Home Office announced last week that the first asylum seekers had moved to Wethersfield.
it is expected that 50 people They form the first group to stay at Bibby Stockholm.
image source, means PA
When the ship arrived on Tuesday morning, it was met with protests from local residents and human rights groups.
Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick said the government had been “clear that those who come to the UK illegally should not be accommodated in Expensive hotels“.
“Our use of alternative accommodation sites and boats provides basic and appropriate standards against the arrival of small boats (with migrants) while processing their applications,” the official said.
The Home Office said Dorset Council was receiving approximately $4,500 for each bed occupied at Bibby Stockholm, with additional money provided to the NHS and local police.
It was reported that the City Council also received approximately $488,000 in grants to support local charities and volunteers who will provide services on the ship.
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