Home office plans for a new accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Gosport have been met with anger from local councillors.

The Home Office announced on Tuesday morning that they are considering plans for an accomodation centre at former naval base, HMS Daedalus.

Gosport already has a detention centre, Haslar, which houses asylum seekers awaiting deportation or appeals to stay in Britain.

Now HMS Daedalus at Lee-on-Solent is being considered for an accommodation facility, where asylum seekers would be housed, educated, and given health care while their applications are processed.

Local councillors are angry at the lack of consultation and say the proposal has been sprung on them.

Alarm bells start to ring when the Home Office says they don't want members present Council leader, Shaun Cully

Shaun Cully, the Labour leader of Gosport council, said he became suspicious when he found out that home office officials were coming down to Gosport for a meeting, but had not invited any councillors.

"They called on Friday and wanted to come down for a meeting, but just with officers - and they wouldn't say what they were going to discuss.

"I instructed my officers that I would be present - alarm bells start to ring when the Home Office - or any Government department - says they don't want members present."

Local Conservative councillor Brian Taylor said his initial reaction was one of horror.

Final decision

"Out of the blue, the Home Office turn up and assume they are going to put 500 asylum seekers in the conservation area of Lee-on-Solent.

"It's a disaster as far as I can see."

The HMS Daedalus naval base closed in 1992, since when there have been debates over the site's future.

The Home Office proposes to use it to house up to 500 asylum seekers.