Stradey Park hotel: Four charged after asylum seeker protest

Four people have been charged after protests took place at a spa hotel which is set to house asylum seekers.

Police were called to the Stradey Park hotel in Llanelli on Sunday after several incidents "caused a disturbance" at the site.

All four people charged are from Llanelli and have been bailed to attend court at a later date.

Scott Samuel, 32, of Bryn Siriol, has been charged with public order and drug possession, and Helen Thomas, 52, of Pentrepoeth Road, has been charged with public order.

Jade Elizabeth Morris, aged 36, of Cwmbach Road, and Scott Joshua Morris, aged 31, of Bres Road, have both been charged with obstructing police.

"Officers remain at the scene to facilitate peaceful protest, where they are continuing to engage with all parties and offering reassurance to the community," Dyfed-Powys Police said in a statement.

Last week, Stradey Park was subject to a legal challenge from Carmarthenshire County Council over plans for it to provide accommodation to over 200 asylum seekers.

It followed reports that around 100 staff had been told they faced redundancy from 10 July.

The council had argued changing the use of the hotel would amount to a breach of planning rules, but a High Court judge rejected the challenge last Friday.

Hotels across the UK have been subject to legal challenges from their local authorities over the housing of asylum seekers over the past year.

MPs were told this week that the Home Office is paying for up to 5,000 empty hotel beds across the country to manage an expected rise in the number of people seeking asylum.