Principality of Piddington

It seems to me that this probably isn't about "fairness" of placement", it's more about shoe-horning people in wherever they can. The whole immigration system needs a huge overhaul, but where to start? The current situation reminds me of John Lanchester's novel "The Wall". When I read it in about 2020, I'd have said it couldn't happen in reality -- but now . . .?

Government points

1) AB highlights that the number of asylum seekers arriving over the past year has reduced by nearly half and at a 7 year low- can't argue with that achievement.

2) The government took on board public protest and strength of opinion they didn't want ASs housed in hotels and HMOs whilst awaiting their claims to be processed- can't argue the government has made good progress in reducing number of expensive hotels and HMOs also in line with public opinion.

3) The government inherited a huge backlog of claims from the Conservative government which it has largely addressed * and* reduced the time period to process claims- can't argue with that achievement.

3) The government's position is that location of other dispersal accommodation should include the use of previous military sites and there is one located in the town of Bicester, 4.5 miles away from Piddington, that will be converted to house ASs. The aim is to make the Bicester site as self contained as possible - open to debate.

OP points

1) "the appalling time it takes" the UK government to process a claim of an asylum seeker once they arrive in the UK- open to debate and comparison with other EU countries and other countries around the world- the uK is not an outlier.

2) "the areas chosen for them to live while they wait are often inappropriate" - discuss and debate where would be appropriate.

I don’t think placing 1,200 men that close to a very small village with just 300-350 people is a great plan, unless the barracks can genuinely be completely self-sufficient and self-contained.

This issue with the “processing” of the claims is 1) due to the ridiculously large previous backlog and 2), because staff cannot easily be recruited into the home office, even on a temporary basis, due to the huge amount of vetting required.

Even if they were to be transferred (on loan) from another Government department, unless it was the Treasury or Foreign Office, who have the same level of clearance as the Home office.

I expect many of you feel that perhaps if all migrants could be locked away, like criminals, this might be safer.

I would very respectfully remind you that in this country we don’t currently lock people up, unless they have either been arrested and refused bail, or been through the court system and been found guilty of a crime which justifies a custodial sentence.

As LemonJam, and many others, have stated, the LP have made massive in-roads into cutting down on arrivals and processing their claims.

Where I do think tightening up could be applied is reviewing the appeal process and ensuring that the criteria is strictly applied.

The Labour government since 2024 has significantly reduced the time it takes on average to process an AS's claim. Current UK average time to process an AS claim is around 6 months

Canada average time to process an AS claim is around 24 months

Australia - currently facing major backlogs and median review times taking 104 weeks, ie just over 2 years.

Complex cases in any country can take longer than average/median.

The Uk therefore is not an outlier and could not be reasonably accused of taking 'an appalling amount of time' compared to other countries. It's more likely to be the case that the general public are not aware of what is involved in the asylum seeker claim process in line with international law.

In all global countries- if they adhere to human rights law and international Refugee law must have in place after claim processing an appeals process. Legal court appeal process also subject to timescales.

No political party has the ability to change the claims process unless they overtly and intentionally choose to act outside the legal framework, ie illegally. Leaving ECHR would make no to little difference- there are international legal frameworks.

Unless of course a government seeks to take control of the judiciary and compel judges to make judgements in line with political bidding- that is an authoritarian state. In the uK currently we have democracy and an independent judiciary.

The planning documents explain why the site was chosen (as opposed to hotel accommodation which the public vehemently objects to):

The site forms part of a former Defence Storage and Distribution Centre east of Bicester, accessed from the B4011 and opposite HMP Bullingdon.

The use of the former MOD site at Bicester provides a more controlled and operationally resilient alternative that helps mitigate cohesion and public order risks. Unlike hotels located within, or immediately adjacent to, town centres and residential neighbourhoods, Bicester is a on an established military estate, with defined boundaries and gated access from B4011, enabling robust security management and controlled movement in and out of the site. Additionally, Bicester is to provide coordinated service provision and management and will subsequently reduce cumulative impacts on multiple communities from using hotels. Furthermore, the layout and infrastructure are designed for communal use unlike hotels which are not intended for sustained residential accommodation.

As I understand it, part of MOD Bicester is still operational as a military base housing 1 Regiment RLC, a regiment of the British Army's Royal Logistic Corps.

Genuine question. If you live or move to a village close to a military base and a prison for male offenders including a YOI, why is this latest plan so problematic?

Here is the link to the planning documents:

www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/118/communities/1404/site-a---bicester-garrison-home-office-proposals

The political party to blame is the Conservatives. Despite their 'Taking back Control ' slogan. It is Brexit that has caused the removal of the tools to manage Asylum Immigration..We ended the UK:s legal participation in the Dublin Regulation and cut off access to shared European databases.
That is why the LP are trying to go down the cooperation route with the EU. That is why there was the EU-UK summit in May 2025.

It’s always going to be a risk that MoD facilities will be used, and people in Piddington must have been aware of that when they moved into their homes. I’m not unsympathetic, but as somebody who lives near a number of military bases myself, I know that an element of uncertainty about what that might mean goes with the territory.

I agree Brexit has given rise to the small boats arrivals.

We have a number of prisons in my county- one a high security Cat A prison in a rural location- villages close by. A dispersal prison for serious, violent offenders often convicted in London courts.

2 prisons on one other rural site (villages close by) - one for Youth Offenders and the other for sex offenders. And another prison just outside one of the main major urban areas in the county with facilities for men, YOs, women and a mother and child unit.

None of the prisons appear to inhibit the housing market in surrounding villages, prompt NIMByism or lead to high profile media attention.

Our county also previously had an immigration centre located in previous RAF facilities that was then leased to the Home Office and transformed into secure immigration reception, used for assessment process and as a secure removal centre. No high profile media attention and expensive desirable residential villages close by. It was subsequently closed because of safety concerns and poor conditions.

I live in a 'green, leafy county'.- Cabridgeshire - with many desirable rural villages, many small like Piddington. Development of previous MOD facilities historically were converted to immigration centres- this is not a new phenomena. This did and can still happen anywhere in the country.

Some towns have been used to accommodate asylum seekers and are full of HMOs. These are often towns where the population is not well off.
I don't know if crime figures are higher in these places.
The government decided that it was unfair to send asylum seekers to poorer towns and wealthier parts should share the burden.
I doubt if hundreds of asylum seekers will be bussed into Piddington. There would be nothing there for them. More likely if bussed anywhere to go to a larger town or city.
If they are over 4 miles away and in a secure setting I can't see how much Piddington will be affected.

Plevey08

The political party to blame is the Conservatives. Despite their 'Taking back Control ' slogan. It is Brexit that has caused the removal of the tools to manage Asylum Immigration..We ended the UK:s legal participation in the Dublin Regulation and cut off access to shared European databases.
That is why the LP are trying to go down the cooperation route with the EU. That is why there was the EU-UK summit in May 2025.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

AGAA4

Some towns have been used to accommodate asylum seekers and are full of HMOs. These are often towns where the population is not well off.
I don't know if crime figures are higher in these places.
The government decided that it was unfair to send asylum seekers to poorer towns and wealthier parts should share the burden.
I doubt if hundreds of asylum seekers will be bussed into Piddington. There would be nothing there for them. More likely if bussed anywhere to go to a larger town or city.
If they are over 4 miles away and in a secure setting I can't see how much Piddington will be affected.

Actually, having read some further info re MOD Bicester, I can see why it was selected.

I completely appreciate too the “anxiety” displayed by the Piddington residents.

However, choosing to live near an MOD, “live” or otherwise, would always constitute a “risk” of some form.

I can remember various barracks in parts of Essex, where residents would be most upset due to the number of military men who’d “invade” their pubs, bars and nightclubs.

It seems some people should have perhaps taken up residency on a desert island?

LemonJam

Our county also previously had an immigration centre located in previous RAF facilities that was then leased to the Home Office and transformed into secure immigration reception, used for assessment process and as a secure removal centre. No high profile media attention and expensive desirable residential villages close by. It was subsequently closed because of safety concerns and poor conditions.

I live in a 'green, leafy county'.- Cabridgeshire - with many desirable rural villages, many small like Piddington. Development of previous MOD facilities historically were converted to immigration centres- this is not a new phenomena. This did and can still happen anywhere in the country.

Ah, but was it heavily and negatively publicised in some parts of the media, with 100% backing of some political parties?