UK town erupts as locals refuse to pay council tax until asylum hotel is gone

Angry locals have confirmed they will refuse to pay their council tax until an asylum seeker hotel is removed from their town. One person said they would risk going to jail as they feel so strongly about the situation in Epping.

It comes after the Court of Appeal reversed an injunction blocking asylum seekers from staying at the Bell Hotel on Friday (August 29). A High Court order previously required the 138 migrants to be removed by September 12. However, they are now able to stay at the hotel, and the local people are furious.

As reported by GB News, the hotel has been at the centre of protests this summer after an Ethiopian migrant resident was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and another woman. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, denies the charges and is currently standing trial at Colchester Magistrates Court.

Sarah White, a mother of three who lives in the area, said she feels "very vulnerable" following the latest court ruling. She added: "What is the point of paying our council tax if it is being directly used to fund a place which houses alleged sex attackers?"

A second resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, added: "The feeling is so strong that the threat of prison does not worry me. I will go to jail for this."

Sarah Corner, 20, agreed: "We need to take a stand. Enough is enough. Our taxes are funding the hotel, the police and all the costs associated with it. That's not what it should be for."

Meanwhile, Khadar Mohamed, a Somalian asylum seeker staying at the Bell Hotel, has welcomed the decision. The 24-year-old said: "I want to say thank you Keir Starmer and his Government. I am delighted with the news, wow. That is really amazing."

Another hearing is scheduled to take place next month and Epping Forest District Council said it will consider apepaling to the Supreme Court if it loses again. The council said: "We will continue to fight on every front, using the democratic, diplomatic, legal, and political means available, until the Hotel is closed."

However, local Conservative councillor Holly Whitbread, is urging the local people not to withold council tax. She reiterated that they should take their frustrations out on the government instead.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage slammed the decision to allow illegal migrants to stay at the Bell Hotel. He blasted: "Illegal migrants have more rights than the British people under Starmer."

Meanwhile, Deputy Reform UK leader Richard Tice agreed that judges had sided "with illegal migrants against British people". He added: "Only Reform UK can be trusted to end this insanity."