The group met up at the Salterns in Tenby this morning (Friday) with the aim to push for their request for an emergency meeting with local and Welsh secretary of state MP Simon Hart, home office representatives, Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed Powys Police and local community council representatives, in light of the news that the Penally Training Camp facility is being prepared for up to 250 asylum seekers that could arrive as early as Monday.
A further meet up by the group is planned for Saturday (September 19), at Butts Field car park in Tenby at 4.50 pm, which will then move into the Tudor Square town centre.
This follows a protest outside the camp on Tuesday evening where over 200 people were present, with some taking to the roadway for a sit down stance.
Penally county councillor Jon Preston revealed this morning that signs have been removed at Penally camp and there was a presence of Pembrokeshire County Council vehicles and staff.
PCC’s leader, Clr. David Simpson has since stated that the authority was made aware only earlier this week of the Home Office decision that Penally Camp had been chosen by them as a site to provide safe and secure accommodation in line with their statutory responsibility to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation.
“I am aware there is a lot of discussion and concern about this announcement,” he said.
“I want to make it clear that Pembrokeshire County Council were ‘informed’ of this decision by the Home Office and did not have any discussion or say in the matter.
“It was immediately obvious to us that the Home Office’s decision has the potential for a number of impacts affecting our local community.
“Therefore, this week, we have been undertaking urgent work to review this in order to provide support to the community, provide reassurance, and support partner agencies.
“All formal communication about the accommodation is being undertaken by the Home Office, and I am not able to comment on issues relating to the camp accommodation.”
Clr. Simpson added: “I understand there are concerns and queries from all different viewpoints on this matter and I stress again the Council have not been involved in the decision to allocate Penally Camp as a site to provide safe and secure accommodation for destitute asylum seekers.
“We are, however, now trying to work with the Home Office and other key partners to try and manage the impacts of this decision.
“I am fully aware that this decision by the Home Office is leading to all sorts of comments and actions relating to the site. I would urge anyone involved to please respect our local community.”
Penally ward’s county councillor Jon Preston took to social media once again today, to update the community.
“On Monday morning I was advised by the Home Office that a ‘series of announcements’ would be made in the coming days regarding the plans for Penally camp, for whatever reason that has not happened,” he stated.
“Despite still not having any confirmed information on this situation I think we need to accept that the Home Office may start the process of using the camp to accommodate asylum seekers within the next few days.
“I must use the word ‘if’ due to no confirmation but if this goes ahead up to 250 males between the ages of 18 to 35 will be accommodated at the barracks. They will not be detained, and it will be a temporary arrangement of around six months.
“As a small community and as a county we have been totally excluded from this process. No opportunity to prepare, no opportunity to engage, no opportunity to ask, no opportunity to contribute and no opportunity to challenge.
“We will now need to come together to ensure that we are never overlooked like this again. We need to seek more suitable alternatives to fulfil our humanitarian obligations and we need to avoid any knee jerk reactions to what may be.
“Many questions remain unanswered and I will continue to seek answers and engage with stakeholders and communities as this situation develops,” added Clr. Preston.