After months of repeated representations from me, the police and Wigan council it’s welcome that the government has finally recognised that Kilhey Court is unsuitable for vulnerable asylum seekers, with no support provided in a part of Wigan where the Britannia is already in use and schools, GP services and local infrastructure are already under significant strain.

The root cause of the increase in hotel use is the chaos in the Home Office which has created a huge backlog of asylum applications and left many asylum seekers waiting years for a decision. It is time the government finally got a grip on this.

I have asked the Home Office for clarification that any asylum seekers affected by hotel closures will be rehoused in suitable, supported accommodation and not simply evicted, as has been reported elsewhere.

This has been a difficult time for people in Standish who have had to put up with media attention, protests and demonstrations over many months. I hope this decision marks the start of a more respectful relationship between the government and our community, where we are involved in decisions that affect us in future.