A petition has been launched calling for the closure of the Best Western Hotel on Bostocks Lane, Long Eaton, which continues to be used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.
The petition, led by Cllr Paul Maginnis, calls on Erewash Borough Council to pursue legal action under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, arguing that the hotel was only ever approved for short-stay visitor accommodation, not long-term housing. Supporters point to a recent case in Essex where a council secured an injunction against a hotel being used in similar circumstances.
A Tale of Two Hotels
The Best Western and the neighbouring Novotel, both on Bostocks Lane, were first pressed into service by the Home Office in late 2022 as part of emergency contingency plans to deal with a backlog of asylum claims. At their peak, the two hotels were housing around 400 people.
In October 2023, then Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told Parliament that such hotels should be “assets for their communities, not housing illegal migrants at unsustainable cost to the taxpayer.” He promised that 50 hotels across the country would be “exited very soon” — with the Bostocks Lane sites among his priorities.
The Novotel closed in June 2024 following sustained political pressure, including lobbying from former MP Maggie Throup (Conservative). Its closure created an immediate spike in demand for housing support: more than 100 people required homelessness assistance from Erewash Borough Council, representing one in five of all homelessness cases that year.
The Best Western, however, remains in operation more than a year later. Its website lists it as “temporarily closed” to the public, but it continues to accommodate asylum seekers. No formal closure date has been announced.
Political Pressure
Since being elected in July 2024, Adam Thompson, Labour MP for Erewash, has repeatedly pressed the issue in Parliament.
Shortly after his election, Thompson told the Home Secretary:
“Sandiacre in my constituency has been home to two asylum hotels, one of which I was very pleased to see close recently, but the Best Western hotel remains open. This is a huge cost to people in my constituency and across the nation, and it leaves asylum seekers caught in an endless and inescapable limbo. What steps will the Home Secretary take to ensure that we can close asylum hotels once and for all?”
By June 2025, his stance had hardened further. Speaking during a Commons statement by the Chancellor, Thompson welcomed the government’s pledge to end asylum hotel use within the life of this Parliament:
“I also warmly welcome her commitment to ending the use of asylum hotels in this Parliament. The Tory party let the asylum system get completely out of control. Does the Chancellor agree that investment now will result in savings of billions as the system is fixed?”
Community Divided
The petition has laid bare divisions in the community.
Supporters say residents were never consulted, public services are under pressure, and planning rules are being ignored.
Opponents argue that asylum seekers need safe, temporary housing while their claims are assessed, stressing the UK’s humanitarian and legal responsibilities.
Others suggest that if hotels are used for accommodation, priority should instead go to veterans and emergency service workers.
What Happens Next?
The petition will be debated at a forthcoming Erewash Borough Council meeting, which is open to the public.
The outcome remains uncertain — but with national pledges to end hotel use and local divisions running deep, the Best Western continues to symbolise the tensions between government policy, council powers, and community sentiment.
💬 Should the Best Western finally close, or remain in use until the asylum backlog is cleared? Share your views below.
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