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Cardiff council tells Lynx House to cut asylum seeker overcrowding Cardiff council tells Lynx House to cut asylum seeker overcrowding
(35 minutes later)
A Home Office accommodation provider has been issued with a legal notice to reduce overcrowding at the premises where asylum seekers were required to wear brightly coloured bands to get food. A delegation of MPs will inspect the property on Monday.A Home Office accommodation provider has been issued with a legal notice to reduce overcrowding at the premises where asylum seekers were required to wear brightly coloured bands to get food. A delegation of MPs will inspect the property on Monday.
Lynx House in Cardiff, which was at the centre of controversy over asylum seekers who were made to wear coloured wristbands to be fed, received an unannounced inspection by Cardiff council after the Guardian revealed that along with the wristband problem, the asylum seekers were also living in overcrowded and insanitary conditions.Lynx House in Cardiff, which was at the centre of controversy over asylum seekers who were made to wear coloured wristbands to be fed, received an unannounced inspection by Cardiff council after the Guardian revealed that along with the wristband problem, the asylum seekers were also living in overcrowded and insanitary conditions.
Lynx House is run by the private firm Clearsprings Ready Homes, which is contracted by the Home Office. Last month the firm cancelled the coloured wristband scheme, which made asylum seekers easily identifiable to members of the public, with some reporting they had been verbally abused.Lynx House is run by the private firm Clearsprings Ready Homes, which is contracted by the Home Office. Last month the firm cancelled the coloured wristband scheme, which made asylum seekers easily identifiable to members of the public, with some reporting they had been verbally abused.
There were reports of up to 11 people expected to sleep in one room. On Friday the council issued an overcrowding notice to Clearsprings.There were reports of up to 11 people expected to sleep in one room. On Friday the council issued an overcrowding notice to Clearsprings.
Asylum seekers alleged that there were 137 people sleeping at Lynx House just before the Guardian exposed the overcrowding. The council notice says that only 36 people should be sleeping there.Asylum seekers alleged that there were 137 people sleeping at Lynx House just before the Guardian exposed the overcrowding. The council notice says that only 36 people should be sleeping there.
The company has 21 days if it wants to appeal against the overcrowding notice to the Residential Property Tribunal.The company has 21 days if it wants to appeal against the overcrowding notice to the Residential Property Tribunal.
A Cardiff council spokesman said: “After this time, if there isn’t an appeal or the appeal is settled in the council’s favour, the notice will require that the number of occupiers are brought down from 42 residents to 36. This relates to the number of people that are able to reside [sleep] at the premises.”A Cardiff council spokesman said: “After this time, if there isn’t an appeal or the appeal is settled in the council’s favour, the notice will require that the number of occupiers are brought down from 42 residents to 36. This relates to the number of people that are able to reside [sleep] at the premises.”
The spokesman said he was aware that some asylum seekers and beds had been moved out of Lynx House before the council inspected the premises.The spokesman said he was aware that some asylum seekers and beds had been moved out of Lynx House before the council inspected the premises.
As well as the overcrowding, the council’s unannounced inspection also found the interior to be grubby, bathrooms in a poor state of repair, general repairs required and poor ventilation.As well as the overcrowding, the council’s unannounced inspection also found the interior to be grubby, bathrooms in a poor state of repair, general repairs required and poor ventilation.
On Wednesday, two days before the council served the notice, about 120 asylum seekers were moved out of Lynx House and connected properties.On Wednesday, two days before the council served the notice, about 120 asylum seekers were moved out of Lynx House and connected properties.
Some were moved elsewhere in Cardiff, some to Swindon, others to Plymouth and about 70 to accommodation in Kilburn, north-west London. The Victorian mansion block was previously used by Brent council to house homeless families. But in a report to the London council’s planning committee, officials said that the “existing facilities are in poor condition”. Some were moved elsewhere in Cardiff, some to Swindon, others to Plymouth and about 70 to accommodation in Kilburn, north-west London. The Victorian mansion block was previously used by Brent council to house homeless families. But in a report to the London council’s planning committee, officials said the “existing facilities are in poor condition”.
Some asylum seekers who were in Lynx House have been moved several times since the Guardian revealed overcrowding – first from Cardiff to a hotel near Gatwick airport, back to Cardiff and then to Southall in west London.Some asylum seekers who were in Lynx House have been moved several times since the Guardian revealed overcrowding – first from Cardiff to a hotel near Gatwick airport, back to Cardiff and then to Southall in west London.
One asylum seeker who has been moved from Lynx House to the accommodation in Kilburn said: “This place might have been nice 100 years ago but it is in very bad condition now. Clearsprings is trying to escape from their problems and are trying to hide us anywhere.One asylum seeker who has been moved from Lynx House to the accommodation in Kilburn said: “This place might have been nice 100 years ago but it is in very bad condition now. Clearsprings is trying to escape from their problems and are trying to hide us anywhere.
“Before the Guardian article there were 137 people sleeping at Lynx and 93 people sleeping elsewhere and eating at Lynx House. Now the council is saying only 36 people should be sleeping there.”“Before the Guardian article there were 137 people sleeping at Lynx and 93 people sleeping elsewhere and eating at Lynx House. Now the council is saying only 36 people should be sleeping there.”
Jo Stevens, MP for Cardiff Central, has raised a series of concerns about Lynx House and Clearsprings with the immigration minister, James Brokenshire.Jo Stevens, MP for Cardiff Central, has raised a series of concerns about Lynx House and Clearsprings with the immigration minister, James Brokenshire.
Referring to the MPs from the Commons select committee on Welsh affairs, who will visit Lynx House on Monday, she said: “What the Welsh affairs select committee will see on their visit will be very different from the reality of life at Lynx House over the past 12 months. Because of political and media scrutiny, Clearsprings have been forced to put things right to ensure people are accommodated safely and properly.”Referring to the MPs from the Commons select committee on Welsh affairs, who will visit Lynx House on Monday, she said: “What the Welsh affairs select committee will see on their visit will be very different from the reality of life at Lynx House over the past 12 months. Because of political and media scrutiny, Clearsprings have been forced to put things right to ensure people are accommodated safely and properly.”
She added: “I have plenty of questions for the immigration minister when I meet him next month about the cost and operation of this taxpayer-funded contract with Clearsprings and what action there’ll be as a result of the obvious failures both in delivery and management of the contract.”She added: “I have plenty of questions for the immigration minister when I meet him next month about the cost and operation of this taxpayer-funded contract with Clearsprings and what action there’ll be as a result of the obvious failures both in delivery and management of the contract.”
The delegation of MPs from the select committee will receive a tour of Lynx House and will speak to the Clearsprings management.The delegation of MPs from the select committee will receive a tour of Lynx House and will speak to the Clearsprings management.
James Vyvyan-Robinson managing director of Clearsprings, was called to a home affairs select committee recently to give evidence about the wristband controversy.James Vyvyan-Robinson managing director of Clearsprings, was called to a home affairs select committee recently to give evidence about the wristband controversy.
“I’m not going to defend the wristband process,” he told the committee. “If we have upset anyone and caused any issues in terms of people being picked out, abused or harassed, yes, I would apologise.”“I’m not going to defend the wristband process,” he told the committee. “If we have upset anyone and caused any issues in terms of people being picked out, abused or harassed, yes, I would apologise.”
Clearsprings did not respond to a request for comment.Clearsprings did not respond to a request for comment.