Protest over Kent County Council’s plans to use Edward Moore House in Gravesend to house unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

Residents have held a further protest over plans to house unaccompanied asylum seeking children in a former care home.

Neighbours living in and near Trinity Road, Gravesend, claim Kent County Council’s (KCC) proposal for Edward Moore House is “wrong”.

However, a charity which supports young unaccompanied asylum seekers (UAS) and refugees think places like the one suggested will provide a “safe” space that they deserve.

In April, KCC wrote to residents to inform them of its proposals after the High Court ruled it needed to increase its capacity to be able to house UAS children “regardless of its limited capacity and resources”.

It currently has two existing reception centres providing temporary housing and care for 16 and 17-year-olds while they wait to be transferred to other local authorities.

As new arrivals of UAS children into care has “dramatically increased following the ruling”, KCC has identified seven buildings to use as new centres - one of which is Edward Moore House in Gravesend.

It has caused upset in the area with several peaceful protests being heldby neighbours to air their frustrations and concerns.

Those against the idea waved placards at a another demonstration outside the Civic Centre, in Community Square, this morning (July 26).

They held signs reading “our neighbourhood, our say”, “our voice counts” and “social housing for local people first”.

Protester Joel Singh said: “It is a nice, family area and the council wants to put this in the middle of it.

“It is going to totally tip the balance if something goes wrong. It only needs a little spark to trigger something big.

“All of us in the community, no matter their race, are totally against it.”

He said the scheme is being “forced upon” residents who he suggests were not properly consulted on the proposals to move up to 36 people in.

Despite this, leader of KCC, Roger Gough, said the council has been in “regular communication” with residents and stakeholders and will continue to update them on progress.

Residents are particularly worried the children will be older than they claim and fear they will get involved in anti-social behaviour.

Joel, who lives in Trinity Road, added: “It is not the right place. You see and hear about the problems happening elsewhere in Kent and the country where this has happened.

“What about us, the people who will live and walk past there day in and day out?

“The better outcome is to turn it back into a car home for the elderly or a place for our own youngsters who have no where else to go.”

Despite this, charity Kent Refugee Action Network, which supports young refugees, said centres like these should be “safe spaces”.

A spokesperson said: “The children will have arrived after long and traumatic journeys - the very least they deserve is a welcoming and safe space.

"We believe reception centres such as the one proposed in Gravesend, and others across Kent, will provide that safe space and the wraparound support they need and deserve.”

Kanwar Gill was also at the town centre protest and said he thinks Edward Moore House is the “wrong” location due to its proximity to the Gurdwara and Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School.

He added: “You never know their background and where they are coming from, that is the local’s worry.

“It is the wrong location. I am sure they can find another place.”

Lee Hardy agreed, saying the site is too close to the independent living centre Blenheim Grove, which also houses vulnerable people.

He said: “I know something has got to be done and these people have to be processed.

“However, they have not put much thought into the location. I believe they have chosen the cheapest building with the least refurbishment needed.

“There has got to be other sites somewhere. Surely, there is something more suitable.

“I do not know the answer but given the council and high courts resources there should be another option.”

Gravesham council has also voiced its objections to KCC’s scheme.

In its latest statement, a spokesman said: “We have every sympathy with local residents and share many of their concerns over the proposed use of Edward Moore House.

“We have been clear in our opposition to the plans since they first emerged earlier this year, in both public and press statements and continued direct representations by the leader of the council to his opposite number at KCC.

“While we benefit from direct lines of communication to the senior leadership at County Hall, the reality is we are in the same position as local residents in facing resolute determination from KCC to proceed with their plans in the face of well-reasoned and genuine objections from those on the ground here in Gravesham.”

KCC has been told it must accommodate and care for UAS children while they wait to be transferred to another local authority under the National Transfer Scheme (NTS).

Cllr Gough said council has continued to assert the need for a process so its services do not become “overwhelmed” and although welcomes the latest £15,000 incentive for others to take the children in, said it is “far from enough to guarantee an efficient and effective NTS”.

He added: “Arrivals of UAS children this year are again at a record high and KCC is in the process of acquiring, refurbishing, and opening new government funded reception centres in the county with some additional capacity to care for these vulnerable children.

“However, transfers out of Kent to other local authorities via the NTS are still not keeping up with arrivals.

“For far too long KCC has been expected to shoulder this large and disproportionate burden to accommodate and care for every UAS child, even on a temporary basis, by itself, simply because of its location on the shortest crossing from Europe.

“This has meant that KCC has effectively been required to find solutions for a national problem, dictated by global migration patterns, within the very limited resources and tools available to a county council.”