A GREENOCK hotel has been completely booked out for at least a year by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.
The 70-room Holiday Inn Express at Cartsburn is already closed to public guests after being commissioned by the Government.
Contingency hotels are being utilised across the UK to cope with increasing numbers of people seeking asylum.
A report updating Inverclyde councillors states: “The Home Office and [its housing contractor] Mears have recently advised that they intend to utilise a hotel in Greenock as asylum contingency accommodation with men seeking asylum.
“All meals, laundry and welfare support will be provided by Mears and Migrant Help.”
Arrangements are being made to provide health assessments and support through provision of English lessons, access to gyms and computer equipment.
The report continues: “An Asylum Dispersal Operational Group has been established and is meeting weekly, chaired by the interim chief officer HSCP [health and social care partnership], involving a range of partners including Mears; Police Scotland; NHS colleagues and the third sector.”
