Asylum seekers to share rooms at Holiday Inn Express in Cartsburn in bid to free up space

Asylum seekers will be expected to share rooms at a Greenock hotel as part of plans to free up space.

The change will see capacity at the Holiday Inn Express in Cartsburn increase from 69 to 126, a report has said.

The accommodation is being used to house male asylum seekers while their claims are being processed.

A Home Office policy of room sharing, which it has insisted is “not new” or optional, will now apply at the Holiday Inn.

A report to the next social work and social care scrutiny panel explained: “Available capacity at the Holiday Inn Express is currently 69 single males.

“The Home Office announced their intention to increase the capacity to a maximum of 126 single males via room sharing and Inverclyde Council and the HSCP (health and social care partnership) have met with Home Office colleagues around this.

“Letters have been issued to existing residents and new furniture has arrived. Several men have self-identified as being happy to share and have begun to do so in the past few days.”

The HSCP’s asylum health team carries out an initial assessment of anyone arriving at the hotel.

It will support ongoing health needs and liaise with other services and secondary care where necessary.

A Home Office spokesperson said previously: “Despite the number of people arriving in the UK reaching record levels, we continue to provide accommodation for asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute to meet our legal obligation.

“To reduce hotel use, asylum seekers will routinely share rooms with at least one person where appropriate.

“This will minimise the impact on communities while we stand up alternative sites.”

The panel will consider the report on Tuesday, October 31.