North Yorkshire Council has officially called on the Home Office (specifically Border Security and Asylum Minister Anna Turley) to drop plans to house 1,250 single adult male asylum seekers at the former RAF station in Linton-on-Ouse.
Key points from the council's formal letter, sent by Council Leader Cllr Carl Les:
Unanimous Council Opposition: A cross-party motion opposing the facility passed unanimously across North Yorkshire Council.
Scale & Demographics: Placing 1,250 men in a rural village of just ~600 residents would more than double the local population, creating an unprecedented concentration in a small community.
Infrastructure & Cost Deficits: The site lacks basic services (no mains gas, removed utilities post-decommissioning, limited public transport, and flood-prone access roads). Rebuilding this infrastructure raises serious value-for-money questions.
Community Proximity: The facility is just 600 metres from Linton-on-Ouse Primary School and near local residential housing.
Lack of Consultation: The Home Office made the decision without prior engagement with the local council or residents.
Cross-Party MP Support: The council’s formal objection is backed by almost every regional MP across political lines: Sir Julian Smith, Kevin Hollinrake, Rishi Sunak, Tom Gordon, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, and Rachael Maskell (York Central).
Notably, Luke Charters (MP for York Outer) is the only local MP not listed among those backing the council's objection. As of today, Luke Charters is the Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Coincidence??).
Call to Action
📢 Write to Luke Charters MP Today
Write to Luke Charters and ask him to stand with the local community and back the council's cross-party objection.
Email: luke.charters.mp@parliament.uk (or via your local constituency contact form)
Key Points to Include in Your Message:
Cross-Party Consensus: Highlight that MPs from all parties (including Labour MP Rachael Maskell) have formally backed North Yorkshire Council's letter.
Community Impact: Emphasize that adding 1,250 individuals to a village of 600 will overwhelm local infrastructure, transport, and health services across the local area.
Direct Request: Ask him directly to add his name to the joint petition and back Cllr Carl Les's letter to Asylum Minister Anna Turley.
Thank you for your support.