The hotel could house more than 100 asylum seekers

Plans to turn the Coniston Hotel in the Kent town into an asylum induction centre have been met with angry protests from nearby residents.

The scheme, made public in January, was put on hold by the government after it was ruled proper public consultation should be carried out.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday night, MP Derek Wyatt attacked the actions of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).

Sittingbourne people are decent people Derek Wyatt MP

Mr Wyatt, the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, told a debate on the proposed centre that NASS had failed to involve his constituents.

He said this led to them protesting when they would have welcomed asylum seekers under better circumstances.

"Sittingbourne people are decent people and they understand how serious an issue this is for any government," he said.

'Would have welcomed refugees'

"If NASS had asked us in Sittingbourne, brought us inside the decision-making process and helped us to lay the issue out in front of our citizens, then I think we would have suggested properties.

"We would have had a mature debate with our stakeholders, including our local churches who I am sure would have taken a lead.

"But it's my belief as well that, provided the site hadn't been our only hotel, we would have welcomed the refugees."

Replying for the government, Immigration Minister Beverley Hughes urged Sittingbourne to play its part now.

She said her official responsible for the induction centre programme had contacted Swale Borough Council to arrange a meeting, but, as far as she knew, had received no reply.

The minister said if the Coniston Hotel was not to be used as an induction centre, she wanted the council to suggest alternatives in the area.