Residents of the village of Piddington have expressed strong opposition to government plans to accommodate asylum seekers at a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) site nearby, citing concerns about community safety and the impact on local life. The proposal is part of a broader effort to manage the national backlog of asylum applications, which currently exceeds 98,000.
Local families say the plans threaten the close-knit, rural character of Piddington. Gina, a mother and long-time resident, appealed directly to Andy Burnham, urging him to consider the safety of children in the village. She emphasized the importance of community support and worried about potential risks associated with housing a large number of migrants in close proximity. “It takes a village to raise a child,” Gina said, stressing that the proposal jeopardizes the village’s traditional way of life.
Her mother, Mandy Bayliss, 62, also voiced fears about the erosion of the local community heritage. Reflecting on her childhood in the area, she described Piddington as a place where children played freely and neighbors watched out for each other, a sense of security she fears may be lost. “Our children’s heritage left by so many generations is going to be eroded by these plans,” she said.
Another resident, Matt Walker, a finance sector worker with two young daughters, highlighted the personal impact the proposals could have on families. Having lived in Piddington for 13 years, Walker described the village as an ideal environment to raise children, a sentiment now clouded by concerns over the proposed migrant housing. “My daughters are getting to that age where they are going to want to cycle to the park and see friends. That’s going to be robbed from them,” he said. He added that he and his wife are trying to balance informing their children about the situation without causing undue fear, but acknowledged that if the plans proceed, they may have to address more difficult conversations.
The government’s strategy aims to reduce reliance on housing asylum seekers in hotels by relocating them to basic accommodation, including former military sites in rural areas. Alongside Piddington, proposals include two other sites at Barnham in Suffolk and Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, which together could house approximately 3,750 asylum seekers. Existing use of other military sites in Crowborough, East Sussex, and Wethersfield, Essex, is also set to be extended to address the influx.
A government spokesman acknowledged the concerns raised by Piddington residents and stated that the issues outlined in letters from local children would be carefully considered. The spokesman emphasized that the government is working with local authorities to make the immigration system fairer and more sustainable. They highlighted reductions in the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels—a drop of 35% over the past year and 63% since a peak in 2023—and noted that overall asylum costs have decreased by nearly £1 billion since the last general election.
As the government continues to implement its approach to the growing migrant situation, communities like Piddington are grappling with the potential social and cultural implications of hosting asylum seekers at these sites.