Asylum seekers housed at RAF Wethersfield are “irked by the lack of a swimming pool” despite being handed dozens of free perks and shuttle services to nearby towns.
More than 1,200 migrants can be housed at the former military airfield, which will now operate as a Home Office asylum accommodation centre until 2027.
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Peter Harris, the leader of Essex County Council who recently visited RAF Wethersfield, spoke to GB News about life behind the walls of the infamous housing site.
“We were aghast at what we saw, to be honest,” Mr Harris told the People’s Channel.
“And what we saw was something more akin to a holiday camp – full-size football pitches, gymnasiums, fully equipped gymnasiums, fitness rooms, and internal sports hall where they play cricket and and basketball.”
He added they were also trained in martial arts and had been informed by one of the asylum seekers was a UFC fighter.
In the dining area, there was “fantastic, fresh food everywhere”, while migrants could also enjoy “well-laid out” sleeping arrangements, the council leader explained to GB News star Nana Akua.
“It was quite staggering,” he added, explaining residents were believed to range from the age of 18 to late-30s.
The Home Office informed Mr Harris there were around 800 migrants being housed there at the moment.
However, Mr Harris did not see all 800, as he was informed that many of them lie in and then are subsequently bussed into town, free of charge.
He said some were “irked most by the lack of a swimming pool” despite being showered with other luxury benefits elsewhere.
Residents also have free access to the medical centre, staffed by GPs and nurses, at any point throughout the day.
Before arrival, the migrants are scanned in the medical centre.
Around 10 per cent of residents were found to possibly have a risk of TB, while around 20 per cent had a latent version of the virus, which is asymptomatic.
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However, the medical staff were also concerned over the risk of exposure to scabies, with those at risk of spreading the disease being placed in isolation.
Another 10 per cent are being treated for mental health conditions, Mr Harris said.
“But the people of Essex, the people of Chelmsford, people of Braintree and the people of Colchester who have to deal with the the buses,” he continued.
“Busloads of migrants coming into them every single day. I mean, literally, there are 17 minibuses transporting migrants into the town centres every single day, including Christmas Day as well.
“That would explain why there were so few migrants that we saw on the day, because there was up to 300 men that were roaming around our our towns and cities. It is simply outrageous. It’s an absolute disgrace.
“And I’m calling on the Government to do something about this and stop this.”
GB News has contacted the Home Office for comment.
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