Andy Burnham is finally set to address the Piddington migrant camp after a petition to withdraw the plans has reached almost 20,000 signatures.
The petition, titled “Stop plans to use MoD sites for asylum seekers without full local consultation”, has gained 19,003 signatures so far.
Published on the August 19, the petition reached the 10,000 mark on August 22, which meant the Government has to respond to it.
The proposed Piddington migrant camp plans to house 1,250 asylum seekers at a military base in the village.
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The Oxfordshire village has a population of just 314, so if the plans go ahead, there would be almost four asylum seekers to one Piddington resident.
A geographical breakdown of the petition show the most concentrated area for signatories was in the Bicester and Woodstock constituency – where Piddington is location – with 2,721 signatures.
The Mid Buckinghamshire seat, which borders Bicester, came in second with 1,379 signatures.
South West Norfolk and Wetherby and Easingwold also had a high concentration of votes – the Government has proposed migrant camps in both areas.
Last month, Mr Burnham told GB News that he had “begun to become aware of the campaign in Piddington”, where children wrote to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns over the migrant camp plans.
He said: “I have begun to become aware of the campaign from Piddington and I will listen to what people are saying and respond to the concerns that they are putting forward.
“I don’t know the issue yet in detail, but in some ways, as I understand it, it is about creating secure space and not have the HMO issues that you were talking about earlier.
“It’s obviously going to be challenging, but I am prepared always to listen to people, to work with people and to pick up legitimate concerns, and I will address those concerns.”
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Piddington also held an independence referendum on July 4, in an attempt to prompt the Government to change course.
The villagers voted 98 per cent in favour of leaving the UK.
A second vote will be held on September 15, with pro-Piddington independence supporters hoping US President Donald Trump will recognise their sovereignty.
On June 26, the Home Office announced it would be seeking planning permission to develop MoD land off the B3011 towards Piddington and Bullingdon prison.
Mr Burnham also told GB News that “the poorest communities” cannot be the only ones to receive asylum seekers.
He said: “I do have to say we cannot have a situation where it’s only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers.
“I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play their part. It’s a challenging issue.
“We’re working at it, we understand people’s concerns, and I will look into the issues raised by the good people of Piddington.”
This follows Cherwell District Council losing its powers over major planning decisions in the area, which have now passed to the Government’s planning inspectorate.
The Home Office has sought planning permission to more than double the capacity of Campsfield immigration detention centre (a 30 minute drive from Piddington), using a crown planning route that bypasses the council altogether.
A recent Government letter suggested work had already begun at the site.
However, a Home Office spokesman said discussions over the Oxfordshire site remain “in an early stage” and are still subject to planning permission, feasibility assessments and due diligence, including engagement with local communities.
The spokesman added “no decisions” have yet been made.
Military barracks in Barnham, Crowborough, Linton-on-Ouse and Wethersfield have also been proposed to be repurposed into asylum seeker camps.
The Home Office has insisted using such sites will save the British public hundreds of millions of pounds, after the asylum hotel bill cost the taxpayer £2.1billion last year.
GB News has approached the Home Office for comment.
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