Council to appeal against High Court ruling over RAF Scampton migrant plans
West Lindsey District Council said it was ‘steadfast in its course of action’ against Government plans to house asylum seekers at the airbase.
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Your support makes all the difference.A district council is to appeal against a High Court ruling which said that Government plans to house migrants on a former RAF airbase formerly home to the Dambusters were lawful.
West Lindsey District Council had previously filed a judicial review against Home Office plans to house migrants on RAF Scampton, near Lincoln.
A High Court judge, Mrs Justice Thornton, ruled on December 6 that the plans to house 2,000 male migrants at the site were lawful, but granted the council leave to appeal.
Our decision was not taken lightly, but our position has always been clear that this site is not suitable for accommodating 2,000 single, adult male asylum seekers
The authority said on Wednesday that councillors “unanimously” agreed to take the ruling to the Court of Appeal following a meeting on Tuesday, adding that it was “steadfast in its course of action”.
Councillor Trevor Young, leader of the council, said: “It was important for us to challenge the decision taken by the Government in March, and we strongly believe this is still the case now, given the findings from the legal proceedings.
“Our decision is strengthened by Mrs Justice Thornton who acknowledged ‘compelling grounds’ for us to appeal on all counts.
“Our decision was not taken lightly, but our position has always been clear that this site is not suitable for accommodating 2,000 single, adult male asylum seekers.
“And whilst it has been a challenging 10 months since the Home Office announced its plans to use RAF Scampton – we have spent much longer working to secure a once-in-a-generation deal for West Lindsey and Lincolnshire as a whole.
“This important historical base, which was once home of the Dambusters, is the perfect location for our landmark £300 million investment plan, which is currently at risk.
“We are compelled to take every possible step to safeguard this opportunity.”
Any appeal must be submitted by December 27, but it is unclear when a hearing will be held.
The council has previously issued enforcement and stop notices to the Home Office to prevent work from taking place on the site.
It said it would continue to work with the Home Office throughout the appeal process.
RAF Scampton was previously home to the 617 Squadron, who completed the Dambuster raid, as well as the Red Arrows.
Councillor Lesley Rollings, deputy leader of the council, said that the appeal aimed to protect communities and promote a “once in a lifetime investment opportunity”, referencing the £300 million regeneration plan for the site which was put on hold when the Government announced its migrant plans earlier this year.
In the December hearing, Mrs Justice Thornton also dismissed claims made by Braintree District Council and a resident, Gabriel Clarke-Holland, for similar plans for land that once formed part of RAF Wethersfield, in Essex.
In a written judgement, the judge said that the Home Secretary had a “statutory responsibility” to provide accommodation for asylum seekers “who would otherwise be destitute”.
The Home Office said it does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.