Wethersfield Airfield welcomes first asylum seekers to site

Wethersfield Airfield has today seen the arrival of 50 people after they travelled to the UK by boat before being taken to a processing facility.

Cheryl Avery, director for asylum accommodation for the Home Office, said the site at Wethersfield will be “fully functional” by autumn with up to 1,700 single adult men housed at the site.

Cheryl Avery at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

Speaking at the site today, she said: “We’ve got about 50 people arriving today from various locations, but they arrived at our facility in Kent at the weekend on small boats.”

A view of an accomodation block at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

When asylum seekers arrive at the processing facility in Kent they are screened, with biometric and health testing, and assessed for suitability for the Wethersfield site.

A view of an accommodation block at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: PA)

The cohort at Wethersfield will be single adult men and after Wednesday’s arrival of the first 50 people the Home Office will “ramp up”.

The Briefing Centre where migrants will be processed at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“The plan is we will go to a maximum of 1,700 by the autumn, the site will be fully functional by that point,” said Ms Avery.

The gym at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

There is an on-site GP surgery, accommodation blocks, a dining hall with meals three times a day, a multi-faith centre and recreation facilities including an indoor basketball court and a gym.

An interior view of a bedroom at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“We do have a shuttle bus facility that will take the asylum seekers on site out to the local area but it’s all managed really carefully and that’s done on a regular basis as well,” said Ms Avery.

An interior view of an en-suite bathroom at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

She said people would not stay at the site for more than nine months.

The Briefing Centre where migrants will be processed at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“We’re really conscious of the fact we don’t want people to be on the site for a long time,” she said.

The onsite health centre at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“We have a process whereby going through the asylum-seeking process they will be between six to nine months maximum and then they will be dispersed into another location if their claim goes beyond that.

The dining hall at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“We don’t want people to feel they are stuck on one site or communities to feel that they are unnecessarily burdened.”

The dining hall at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

She said the site is run by a contractor and manned 24/7 with CCTV cameras in place.

“We make sure that everybody is safe, both asylum seekers on site and the community as well,” said Ms Avery.

The gym at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“We’re also working really closely with Essex Police to make sure we run the site effectively.

“They’ve worked really closely with other police forces in a facility we have in Kent and they’ve shared lessons learned around how to keep the community safe and how to keep asylum seekers safe.”

The gym at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

She said there are “a lot of facilities on site to ensure that people are fully occupied”.

“In our site in Kent we’ve got people who have a running club, there are art lessons, there are lots of activities that keep people occupied, but also to engage with the community as well and learn how to be a good citizen,” said Ms Avery.

Entrance to the onsite health centre at the asylum accommodation centre at MDP Wethersfield (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)

“Everybody who arrives here goes through an orientation process to understand what acceptable behaviour is.

“We know they’ve been through quite a lengthy journey and they’re in a new environment and it’s important they understand how to fit in and be part of the community and minimise any impact.”

Everyone who arrives at the Wethersfield site is presented with a welcome pack at the briefing centre.

This contains toiletries and details, in a person’s own language, on “what it is to be a good neighbour”, Ms Avery said, adding that there are “ongoing sessions” about integrating into the community.