A hotel owner says “plans” to house asylum seekers at his business are false and it won’t be happening.

Lawrence Gibbons, who owns Grange Moor Hotel in St Michael’s Road, Maidstone, has slammed reports his establishment could take in 114 people.

This was said to be on the cards after proposals to move them to flats in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, were dropped.

A statement from Weald MP Helen Grant had suggested Mr Gibbons’ hotel was being lined up as “an alternative”.

However, he has rubbished this – saying there is no intention of turning the building, which has been in his family for 12 years, into an asylum hub.

This is despite occasional phone calls from outsourced agencies canvassing on behalf of the government.

Ms Grant’s office has subsequently explained why she suggested Grange Moor was being lined up.

Her spokesman Ben Ditton said she was informed by the Home Office on April 5 that Grange Moor was to be considered.

She has since received an additional message saying no further hotels in Maidstone are being looked at for asylum accommodation.

But she is yet to receive confirmation, despite further inquiries, the Home Office has withdrawn its interest in Grange Moor despite Mr Gibbons being clear it is not happening.

Speaking previously about the rejected Tonbridge Road plans, Ms Grant said: “The plans were completely unsuitable for this area and would place further burdens on local social housing needs and other services.

“We should not be using hotels for these purposes – it is costing the taxpayer an absolute fortune. I will be writing to the Home Secretary again to express my ongoing opposition.

“These plans are in addition to the 137 asylum seekers Maidstone council is due to accommodate through the Asylum Dispersal Scheme.

“In my view Kent has been generous in the numbers of asylum seekers being accommodated here.

“The responsibility needs to be shared more fairly across the country and I am calling for a general review of the scheme numbers for our hard-pressed frontier county.”

The Home Office has been approached for comment.