The Isle of Wight should not have asylum accommodation imposed without proper local consultation.

In recent months, many Island residents have been struggling with homelessness, long housing waits and inadequate emergency accommodation. Some local people have reportedly been offered tents because of the shortage of suitable housing. That alone shows how stretched the Island already is.

Reports now suggest that asylum accommodation could be spread to more local authority areas, potentially including the Isle of Wight. This is not about race, religion or stirring up hostility. It is not an argument against sanctuary for people in genuine need. It is about transparency, fairness, housing pressure, GP access, ferries, policing, schools, tourism, fire safety and the Island’s already limited infrastructure.

If the Home Office, its contractors, or any public authority is considering hotels, HMOs, holiday sites, former care homes, public buildings or private accommodation on the Isle of Wight, residents deserve to know before decisions are made, not after contracts are signed.

This is a capacity and accountability issue. If any large accommodation scheme were being imposed on the Island without consultation, residents would be right to ask questions.

Local residents understand the limits of Island life: ferry dependency, housing shortages, NHS pressure, seasonal tourism, school places, transport and community safety. These issues must be properly assessed before any accommodation scheme is approved.

We call on Isle of Wight Council, the Home Office and all relevant authorities to ensure that no asylum accommodation is commissioned on the Isle of Wight without:

- full public consultation
- published impact assessments
- legal and planning review
- fire safety and housing suitability checks
- assessment of pressure on local services
- clear communication with residents, councillors and affected communities

Decisions made about the Island must involve the Island.

Please sign and share if you agree that the Isle of Wight deserves transparency, fairness and proper consultation before any asylum accommodation is commissioned here.