I welcome the decision to close the Marine Court Hotel to asylum seekers at the end of February. This is the right move for Bangor and reflects the concerns that have been raised by the local community for some time.
The use of this prominent seafront hotel for asylum accommodation was never appropriate. It was implemented without proper consultation, placed pressure on local services, and created significant unease and division among residents. The safety and well-being of our community must always come first, and this closure is a step toward restoring confidence and calm in the town.
This must now be followed by firm and decisive action from the Government. The current system is broken. We need a clear and workable immigration strategy that ends the reliance on unsuitable accommodation and tackles the root cause of this crisis. That means taking real steps to stop the boats, control illegal immigration, and restore public confidence in the asylum system.
The people of North Down, and across the UK, expect their Government to protect borders and ensure that immigration is managed fairly, firmly, and with proper oversight. Communities should not be expected to carry the burden of a failing system.
I will continue to press for a responsible, long-term approach — one that upholds our values while protecting our towns and ensuring the integrity of our borders.
Alex Easton MP
Member of Parliament for North Down
