Conservative MS hits out at Home Secretary over decision to house asylum seekers at Snowdonia Hilton hotel

A Conservative Senedd Member has hit out at Home Secretary Suella Braverman after it was revealed a Hilton hotel in Snowdonia is being used to house asylum seekers.

Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders has written to the UK Government minister, a fellow Conservative, after it was confirmed the Hilton Garden Inn at Adventure Parc Snowdonia in Dolgarrog is providing emergency accommodation for asylum seekers whilst their applications are processed.

In the letter, Mrs Finch-Saunders has asked for clarity as to what consideration the Home Secretary gave to the fact that the decision is resulting in an increase of the local population by 50 per cent and how her department reached a conclusion that Dolgarrog is the most appropriate location in the whole of the UK.

She also queried whether any consideration was given to the rurality of the village and how much her department is paying per night to the owners of the hotel to accommodate the asylum seekers.

Mrs Finch-Saunders has issued a strongly worded comment to the press in which she referred to the people being accommodated at the hotel as “alleged illegal immigrants who have contributed nothing to this nation”.

She said: “The Hilton in Dolgarrog is a new luxury hotel on a site which has received several millions of pounds of Welsh Government funding to be developed as a tourist destination.

“It is a disgrace that taxpayers’ money is being used to house alleged illegal immigrants who have contributed nothing to this nation in accommodation many locals could not afford.

“As I have outlined in my letter to Suella Braverman KC MP, Home Secretary, there are several reasons why the hotel in Dolgarrog is completely inappropriate.

“I have asked a series of questions, including why the local community and I had to find out via rumours on social media.

“The Home Secretary has caused considerable distress to a peaceful community. Rather than house illegal immigrants in a luxury hotel, I suggest that she give urgent consideration to moving them elsewhere.

“I cannot believe that the Home Secretary has done this to the Conwy Valley. You can be sure that I will raise the situation in the Welsh Parliament this week and continue to challenge the UK Government over the matter.

“The way we have been treated by them and their decision is completely unacceptable and unforgivable.”