Row breaks out as homeless from Brighton are placed in Eastbourne hotel

The Herald understands 15 people have been housed by the Brighton & Hove City council in the OYO Marine Parade Hotel with another 20 expected in the coming days – and with no consultation with Eastbourne council, police or other organisations.

Council and hospitality officials and businesses are upset at the move.

Eastbourne council leader David Tutt said, ”I have every sympathy for people who are down on their luck and in need of housing but that extends to people here in Eastbourne not from outside the area. There is a protocol if other councils want to place their homeless in a different town. Brighton council did not follow that.”

A spokesperson at Brighton council said the authority could not confirm any numbers or whether Brighton officials had spoken to their counterparts in Eastbourne.

The spokesperson said, “Where we have acquired specific accommodation in Eastbourne for people who needed accommodation during the pandemic, we have provided 24/7 on site security to support the providers with managing the accommodation.

“The people placed are generally in low need, some of who were working pre Covid 19, so in terms of support this would be anticipated to be minimal.

“Even so, our welfare officer service still checks in with all people who are placed in emergency accommodation and check how they are managing.”

The company which owns the OYO Marine Parade Hotel also owns OYO Strand Hotel further along the seafront and OYO Palm Court Hotel.

On its website OYO describes itself as the world’s fastest growing hotel chain.

The company has been approached for a comment.

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