Villagers' fury at decision to turn RAF Scampton into asylum seeker ... trends now Villagers have criticised the Home Office's decision to turn an iconic airbase into temporary housing for asylum seekers, with one complaining that 'everyone will lose out'. RAF Scampton, which was the Dambusters squadron's HQ and housed the Red Arrows for 20 years, will be used to accommodate 2,000 asylum seekers despite significant opposition from locals and Conservative MPs. West Lindsey District Council fears the move will jeopardise a £300million regeneration project to turn the site into a heritage, aviation and research centre - and is now plotting a High Court injunction to block the move. Meanwhile, residents of the tiny Lincolnshire village of Scampton argued the decision 'doesn't make sense for anybody'. 'Everyone involved is going to lose out, including the asylum seekers,' one man complained. The main entrance to RAF Scampton, an iconic airbase in Lincolnshire that was once home to the Dambusters One Scampton resident complained residents would not feel 'safe' following the move Another pointed out the lack of local activities or amenities for the asylum seekers, telling GB News: 'There's nothing to do on the site, there's nothing to do in the village apart from the pub. There's not even a shop.' One woman complained locals would no longer feel 'safe', while a second said that while she had a 'huge amount of sympathy' for asylum seekers she felt 'indignation and annoyance'. Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, confirmed yesterday that 3,700 people would be housed at Scampton and RAF Wethersfield in Essex, with an extra 1,200 going to a separate site in East Sussex. The third location is a former prison in Bexhill that went on to be used as a training facility by the United Arab Emirates. Mr Jenrick said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was 'bringing forward proposals' to use the Catterick Garrison barracks to house asylum seekers in his constituency to show 'leadership'. Latest figures show the cost of migrant hotels was running at more than £6.3million a day in December, after a record 45,700 Channel arrivals last year. The new sites are expected to house fresh arrivals across the Channel rather than asylum seekers already living in hotels. Charities said the military accommodation is 'grossly inadequate' to house people who have fled war. RAF Scampton will be used to accommodate 2,000 asylum seekers despite significant opposition from locals and Conservative MPs Senior Conservative Sir Edward Leigh responded by saying an injunction will be sought against the 'thoroughly bad decision' in Lincolnshire, after a similar threat came from Essex. Mr Jenrick told the Commons the Government remained committed to its 'legal obligations' to house the destitute but said 'we're not prepared to go further'. 'Accommodation for migrants should meet their essential living needs and nothing more. Because we cannot risk becoming a magnet for the millions of people who are displaced and seeking better economic prospects,' he said. The minister insisted the sites are 'undoubtedly in the national interest' and said 'single adult males' only will be forced into the barracks, as he seeks to reduce a hotel bill he put at £2.3 billion a year. Using repurposed barrack blocks and portacabins, Scampton and Wethersfield will be used to accommodate around 200 people initially before capacity 'gradually' increases. Sir Edward, a former minister who represents Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, said using the former home of the Dambusters RAF squadron could jeopardise a £300 million regeneration project. Addressing Mr Jenrick, the MP said: 'I can inform him that the moment this is confirmed the local authority in West Lindsey will issue an immediate judicial review and injunction against this thoroughly bad decision which is not based on good governance but the politics of trying to do something.' RAF Wethersfield in Essex will also be used to house asylum seekers who have come to Britain after crossing the Channel A total of 87 migrants were brought into the harbour at Dover in Kent yesterday after being intercepted at sea, bringing the total of illegal crossing so far for 2023 to 3,767 Tory run West Lindsey District Council said it was 'extremely disappointed' by the plans to use Scampton and is 'considering all legal options, including urgent judicial review proceedings'. The plans were going ahead in the Braintree constituency of Foreign Secretary James Cleverly despite him arguing Wethersfield 'wasn't appropriate for asylum accommodation'. Writing on Facebook on Wednesday, Mr Cleverly said: 'Although this decision isn't the result my constituents and I wanted, I have received assurances that community safety will remain paramount.' Braintree District Council, which is also controlled by the Conservatives, had already said it was 'preparing to apply to the High Court for an interim injunction'. Mr Jenrick said a 'separate site in East Sussex' would also be used, which the Home Office described as a 'non-military' location that will house up to 1,200 people, without giving further details. PA learned the site used to be Northeye prison until its closure in 1992 before being used for training by the UAE. Local MP and transport minister Huw Merriman said: 'I know that this decision will have an impact on local authorities and public services. It will also be of great concern to local residents.' Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire will also be used as accommodation for asylum seekers Ahead of the announcement, multiple newspapers had been told that ferries and barges would also be used to house asylum seekers. But Mr Jenrick was not able to set out any imminent plans, with a Government source stressing 'nothing has been bought' and there are 'no barges or ferries'. However, Tory led Dorset Council said it was aware of talks between the Home Office and the owners of Portland Port 'to site floating accommodation for asylum seekers in the port'. 'We have serious concerns about the suitability of the location for this facility,' the council said. The Refugee Council said it was 'deeply concerned' by the plans, saying the suggested accommodation is 'entirely unsuitable' to the needs of asylum seekers. Enver Solomon, the charity's chief executive, said: 'These sites are wholly inadequate places to house vulnerable men, women and children who have come to our country in search of safety. 'We must ensure that people fleeing war, conflict and persecution can access safe, dignified, and appropriate accommodation while in the UK asylum system. 'They are also unworkable and will add yet more cost and chaos to the system.' Alex Fraser, the British Red Cross's UK director for refugee support, said the proposed sites are 'entirely inappropriate for people and will lead to significant suffering'. 'Military sites, by their very nature, can re-traumatise people who have fled war and persecution. These sites may also put vulnerable people at risk of exploitation,' he added. Amnesty International UK's Steve Valdez-Symonds said the 'huge and expensive backlog' in asylum claims he blames on the Government is 'no excuse for failing to treat people properly'. 'People who have escaped terror and torture, endured criminal exploitation and traumatic journeys should be treated with basic human dignity, not corralled on barges or other grossly inadequate and isolated accommodation,' he added. 'The consequences of dismal accommodation - subjecting people to prolonged squalor, social exclusion, mental and physical ill health, even outbreaks of fatal disease - keep being ignored.' All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility