COUNCILLORS concerned about plans to turn a notorious borstal into an immigration detention centre have been accused ‘spreading scare stories’ by their local MP.

Richard Holden has criticised members of Durham County Council for speaking out about Government plans to Hassockfield Detention Centre into a Category 3-style prison for around 80 female foreign nationals awaiting deportation and repatriation to their home country.

It came after plans to build 127 homes on the site were scrapped in favour of the scheme, and objectors argued it will deprive the community of much-needed affordable housing.

They also said it was inhumane to “shovel” people who may have been rescued from refugee boats to the North-East.

Mr Holden, MP for North-West Durham, raised the issue in the House of

Commons earlier this week.

The Northern Echo:

Richard Holden MP

He said: “Genuine refugees should always be looked after but we also need to deport those who have no right to be in the UK.

“It is sensible that the former Hassockfield site be turned into an immigration detention and removal centre. Not only does the site have all necessary permissions, it is also in a sensible location and reusing existing buildings is a sensible use of taxpayer’s money.

“The project will also create hundreds of good, local jobs and bring millions into the local economy – having dealt with the pandemic for a year, it is extremely welcome news that our local economy will see this much-needed boost and I’ve had many people get in touch with me already to enquire about applying for jobs at the site.

“The news that local Labour party activists are spreading false rumours about Hassockfield to try and stir up local criticism is appalling. Not only are they working to weaken the strong immigration system that people voted for in 2019, they are working to prevent a huge local boost to our economy.

"I understand that Labour politicians don’t want criminals and illegal migrants to be deported. I do, and Hassockfield is a sensible option.”

It is understood the facility will create around 200 local jobs with work set to start within a couple of months.

Durham County Councillors have now hit back at Mr Holden over his comments.

The Northern Echo:

Malcolm Clarke 

Cllr Malcolm Clarke said: “It is disappointing that Richard Holden is ignoring the legitimate and heartfelt objections of people who are uncomfortable with this facility being opened in North-West Durham, a facility which will only extend the suffering of women who only hope for a better life.

“Far from being “appalling”, those of us not in favour of these proposals are caring individuals who value ethical and fair treatment of women.

“It is the MP who appears to wilfully turn a blind eye to this suffering and, worse still, encourages it in his own constituency.”

Cllr Jane Brown said it is ‘no great surprise’ to see Mr Holden ‘misrepresenting’ the views of County Durham Labour members in his comments.

The Northern Echo:

Jane Brown 

She said: “To clarify, we do not believe in an ‘open doors’ immigration policy nor is anyone spreading ‘scare stories’.

“The concerns, raised by numerous members of the local community who Mr Holden claims to represent, do indeed include local Labour Party members but that does not make them irrelevant.

“The fact is these concerns are related to the detention centre reopening at the expense of a project that would have delivered 127 new homes for people desperate for them.

“Labour remains opposed to the scrapping of this vital social housing scheme, and we asked Mr Holden, as the constituency MP, if he would back a campaign to ensure these houses were built.

“For him to state we have opposed the reopening of Hassockfield for because of political reasons is simply untrue.”

In recent years a major investigation into historic abuse prompted allegations of sexual and physical assaults from hundreds of men detained as youngsters in what was the Medomsley Detention Centre in the 70s and 80s.

The facility later became Hassockfield Secure Training Centre, which closed in 2015 with the loss of about 150 jobs.

In a statement, the North-West Durham Constituency Labour Party said: “We feel strongly that reopening the site as another detention centre will reopen wounds our community has suffered in relation to the historic physical and sexual abuse which took place at Medomsley Detention Centre in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

“The potential impact and/or trigger and re-traumatising effect this could have on the mental wellbeing of survivors of the centre and of residents locally is a strong reason to oppose it.

"The plans for a housing development which would have brought a percentage of affordable homes and financial investment to the area have been railroaded in favour of the Immigration Removal Centre, with what appears to be a total lack of engagement or consultation with local residents.

“Richard Holden needs to explain his actions in this regard and the Government's decision which means that much-needed affordable housing will not now be coming to our local area.

“Instead, Holden prefers to attack those who disagree with him and lie about Labour's views on immigration and crime.

"North-West Durham Labour opposes the Immigration Removal/Detention Centre, will campaign strongly against it and we will hold Richard Holden and the Home Office to account."