Hoylake is a quiet seaside town nestled on the Wirral, cherished by families, elderly residents, small schools, and neighbours who genuinely care for one another. Within our tight-knit community, we have opened our arms and hearts to welcome asylum-seeking families into the King’s Gap Hotel.

 

Their children attend our local schools, bringing diversity and new friendships to our classrooms. Parents shop regularly on our high street, supporting the small businesses that define Hoylake’s charm. They have joined craft groups, participated in local cafés, and built strong connections with our volunteers, churches, and charities. These families are no longer strangers they are part of the daily fabric of our town.

 

It’s true the hotel once housed single men. But over time, King’s Gap naturally evolved into a family shelter, supported by the right local infrastructure:

 • Nurseries, primary schools, and a high school within walking distance

 • Women-led craft groups, family cafés, and local charity hubs

 • A peaceful, walkable community where mothers and children feel secure

 

There is no meaningful way to integrate or engage large numbers of single men fairly within this community structure. Doing so would be unfair to them, and unfair to our town, especially when the current family-focused setup is working so well.

 

These families are only here temporarily as part of the asylum process. Still, while they are, Hoylake offers the perfect setting for children and parents to connect, heal, and truly integrate. 

 

Despite misleading media reports, the local protest movement is not hostile to these families. Current residents have been reassured that the protesters are here to support them, not oppose them. Many families understood this and expressed gratitude. The real anger is directed at the local council, the Home Office and Serco. 

Hoylake has adapted around these families. Our community groups, schools, businesses, and volunteers have worked together to make space for them not just physically, but emotionally and socially. That progress has taken time, care, and trust. Replacing families with single men would undo all that effort and turn a well-functioning temporary support system into a logistical and social challenge.

 

Our community sees these families as part of the heart of Hoylake, a vibrant symbol of what’s possible when people come together. It gives us the chance to share cultures, learn from one another, and uphold British values like kindness, fairness, and respect.

 

Wirral Council has already voiced concern about the government’s decision to remove the families from King’s Gap. While the final say lies with the Home Office, our local leaders, like our residents, know that Hoylake works best when it supports families.

 

Please stand with us. Sign the petition to protect these families and preserve the sanctuary we’ve built together.

 

Your signature is more than a name, it’s a stand for compassion, common sense, and community.

 

Let’s not erase the progress we’ve made. Let’s keep Hoylake a town where families are welcomed not replaced.