A community campaign for responsible housing, proper scrutiny and fair treatment for everyone affected.

We, residents of Longridge and the wider Ribble Valley, formally object to the proposed use of a property on Beech Drive, Longridge, as managed asylum accommodation for four unrelated adult men.

This is a very small former family home, understood to have originally been arranged as approximately 2.5 bedrooms. Residents do not believe this represents fair or appropriate accommodation for four unrelated adults, particularly where occupancy may change over time.

This is about fair treatment for everyone involved. People seeking asylum deserve accommodation that is genuinely suitable, safe and dignified. Existing residents deserve proper consultation, lawful property selection and confidence that safeguarding, management and community impacts have been properly assessed.

Serious questions have also been raised regarding the proposed use and management of the property, potentially changing occupancy, planning, restrictive covenants and wider community liaison.

It is difficult to justify a system in which modest family homes can become more financially attractive as government-backed investments while local first-time buyers and renters are squeezed out, and people seeking asylum are themselves placed in cramped or unsuitable accommodation. Charities working with asylum seekers, alongside parliamentary committees, have repeatedly condemned poor conditions, weak oversight and failures of accountability within outsourced asylum housing.

Our objection is to the selection and proposed use of this particular property, not to people seeking asylum.

We call on SERCO and the relevant authorities not to use or reconsider a small property on Beech Drive, Longridge for this purpose and on Ribble Valley Borough Council to ensure that future managed-accommodation properties are properly scrutinised before occupation is arranged.

We appeal to the local authorities, housing agencies, and related decision-makers to review the current proposal with fairness and responsibility in mind, ensuring every individual receives just and suitable accommodation, reflecting our community’s values of respect and harmony.

We implore you to sign this petition to preserve the integrity and communal spirit of Longridge and the Ribble Valley, advocating for a solution that accommodates everyone fairly. Let's work together to ensure a compassionate and balanced approach to this matter.