Plans by the House Workplace to make use of a Bathgate lodge as lodging for asylum seekers have been scrapped.
The council had been informed that as much as 81 single males predominantly from the Center East or Africa can be accommodated on the Cairn Resort whereas their asylum purposes had been processed.
The council was first suggested six weeks in the past that the Cairn can be used as an asylum lodge.
Nonetheless this week it emerged that no settlement had been made and that the Cairn wouldn't be accepting asylum seekers.
The House Workplace wouldn't touch upon why the lodge was not getting used, or affirm whether or not different websites in West Lothian had been being thought-about.
The information got here only a week after the council’s director of Well being and Social Care, Alison White, outlined authorities plans to make use of the lodge to accommodate these awaiting selections on whether or not they can be allowed to remain within the UK.
The lodging is managed for the House Workplace by a agency referred to as Mears. It's accountable for the day after day working of asylum resorts. The council would have had no enter.
A spokesperson for a PR agency appearing on behalf of the Cairn mentioned: “The Cairn is a public lodge, nonetheless underneath the identical umbrella of Hannigan Lodges we additionally function the Cladhan Resort in Falkirk, which is presently leased to a non-public firm that homes asylum seekers throughout the property. It’s my guess that that is doubtlessly the place the confusion lies.
“The Cairn has no asylum seekers, as I discussed it's personal company solely at that property.”
She added: “Now we have been in contact with the corporate that leases The Cladhan Resort in Falkirk to ask in the event that they know something. They've confirmed that THEY had approached West Lothian Council with a view to then approaching us in the event that they had been profitable with their utility.
“After we leased the Cladhan, it was a derelict lodge, unused resulting from covid for over two years. We had no issues leasing it to this firm.
“The Cairn, nonetheless, is a buying and selling and profitable lodge - we absolutely perceive the implications of the status of a lodge as soon as it had been leased on this capability and we've got not approached the council about any such lease in any respect.”
A spokeswoman for the House Workplace informed the Native Democracy Reporting Service: “The Cairn just isn't getting used. I can not go into operational particulars or issues however I can affirm the lodge just isn't getting used for asylum seekers.”
Once more citing “operational issues”, she mentioned she couldn't touch upon whether or not different resorts within the county may be thought-about.
A spokesman for West Lothian Council mentioned: “Now we have been suggested by Mears that the lodge supplier has made the choice to not signal the contract to permit this to be procured by the House Workplace by way of Mears.”
Mears was contacted for remark.
Do not miss the most recent information from the West Lothian Courier. Signal as much as our free e-newsletter right here