OVER a dozen councils are still poised to take legal action to shut asylum hotels.
These include at least four Labour-run authorities, such as Wirral, Stevenage, Tamworth and Rushmoor councils.
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It comes after the Court of Appeal today overturned a landmark ruling to boot migrants out of the Bell Hotel in Epping.
Mr Justice Eyre ruled the owners may have breached planning rules by housing migrants rather than paying customers.
Protests had erupted outside the three-star hotel in recent weeks after a resident was accused of trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
If more councils take action, ministers are unsure where more than 30,000 people in hotel rooms would live.
A full hearing is scheduled for October to conclude whether the council’s claim that the use of the Bell Hotel to house asylum seekers breached planning rules.
As reported by The Times, at least 13 councils are planning to launch legal action.
Meanwhile Epping Forest District Council announce it would consider taking its case to the Supreme Court in order to see migrants moved out of the Bell Hotel.
And the Tories are offering free legal advisors to local authorities who wish to fight their case.
This evening, protests erupted outside the Delta Marriot hotel in Chestnut, Hertfordshire.
Crowds were held back by officers as they tried to break through barriers.
One copper could be seen pushing a riled demonstrator back by the neck.
Seconds later, another local holding a beer was knocked to the floor and hauled up by fellow protesters.
Corina Gander, the Conservative leader of Broxbourne council, said the authority was pressing ahead with its legal bid to close the Delta Hotel.
She told Times Radio: “The route that we’re going down is planning enforcement.
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“So we’ve issued this week a planning contravention notice, which will give us enough evidence to prove that the hotel is not a hotel, it is effectively a hostel.”
Elsewhere, Spelthorne council in Surrey, also confirmed they will continue in their bid to stop migrants being house at the Stanwell Hotel in Staines.
Meanwhile Labour-run Wirral council said last week it was “actively considering all options available to us to ensure that any use of hotels or other premises in Wirral is lawful and does not ride roughshod over planning regulations on the wishes of our communities”.
And in West Northamptonshire and Staffordshire, both Reform UK, local authorities confirmed they are also considering launching legal action.
It comes as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage led fury at today’s decision – claiming migrants have “more rights than British people under Starmer”.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch echoed the sentiment, adding: “Keir Starmer has shown that he puts the rights of illegal immigrants above the rights of British people who just want to feel safe in their towns and communities.
“This ruling is a setback, but it is not the end. I say to Conservative councils seeking similar injunctions against asylum hotels – KEEP GOING!
“Every case has different circumstances, and I know good Conservative councils will keep fighting.”
Chaos continued to unfold at anti-migrant protests this evening with three arrested outside the Bell Hotel.
Protesters gathered in Epping this evening after resident blasted the decision to keep migrants in the Bell Hotel as “absolutely disgusting”.
Essex Police have detained three people amid the clash, which saw two officers injured.
One man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, while another was taken into custody on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
A third was taken in on suspicion of drink driving after they swerved onto wrong side of the road, towards a police cordon.
All men remain in police custody, according to the force.
Residents earlier blasted the decision to keep migrants in the Bell Hotel as “absolutely disgusting”.
Similar scenes took place outside The Highfield house hotel in Southampton.
A Union Jack flag was tied onto one of the hotel signs, while crowds chanted “stop the boats, take them home”.
Pink Ladies members also stepped out near The Roundhouse in Bournemouth, Dorset.
