Hotel at centre of former asylum housing row closes

A hotel previously at the centre of a dispute over plans to house asylum seekers has closed with immediate effect.

The four-star Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, reopened in 2024 after the Home Office's controversial plans were scrapped following 100 days of protests the previous year.

Councillor Stephen Williams said staff were in tears after being told the hotel would close immediately.

BBC Wales has contacted the owners and the hotel for a response.

Williams said he visited the hotel on Monday evening and residents had been asked to leave.

"Local staff have been kicked in the teeth by a business or organisation which is based out of the town, which has led to this," he said.

"To see [staff] there yesterday in tears, it was really heart-breaking."

In 2023 it was reported that 95 staff members would lose their jobs due to the Home Office's plans at the time.

Carmarthenshire council, police and crime commissioner for Dyfed-Powys and Hywel Dda health board jointly raised concerns.

Demonstrations began in early July 2023 and escalated over the summer. A makeshift camp was set up outside the hotel entrance and fires broke out near the site.

Between mid-August and early October, about 40 arrests were made.

In October 2023 the plans were dropped by the Home Office, who did not explain the decision at the time but said it was "working hard to reduce the unacceptable use of hotels by moving asylum seekers into alternative, cheaper accommodation".

At the time, the hotel said it planned to rehire staff to resume business and serve the community "as soon as possible".

It later emerged that the policing operation at the Stradey Park Hotel cost Dyfed-Powys Police more than £1m.

After those proposals were ditched, the hotel underwent renovations so it could reopen to the public and Williams said staff had been very busy.

"They've worked had worked hard to develop and bring the hotel back to fruition," he said.

"I think the town and village are in shock and dismay."

Sean Rees, leader of Llanelli town council, said the hotel had been an "important part of Llanelli's economy and identity".

"This abrupt closure will cause significant financial and personal anxiety for those employees and their families, and they must now be our priority," said Rees, adding he had written to Carmarthenshire council leader to make sure staff get information on redundancy rights and access to benefits, retraining or redeployment.