A masked anti-migrant group says Piddington will be its next target as the government considers housing up to 1,256 asylum seekers beside an Oxfordshire village of roughly 350 residents.
Patriot Platform says it intends to mobilise supporters around Piddington, where a former military site is being considered for asylum accommodation.
Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, has spoken about attracting large numbers of supporters and using blockade-style tactics.
The organisation has previously been involved in protests in Dover and Portsmouth.
Piddington residents have their own campaign against the asylum proposal.
That campaign is separate from Patriot Platform.
1,256 PLACES BESIDE A VILLAGE OF 350
The scale of the government’s proposal is substantial.
The site could accommodate up to 1,256 asylum seekers, more than three times the population of neighbouring Piddington.
An earlier figure of 3,510 places caused considerable local concern, although the Home Office says that came from an outdated draft and is not the current proposal.
No final decision has yet been taken.
The government wants to reduce its reliance on asylum hotels.
Moving large numbers of people into former military sites simply transfers the consequences of that policy elsewhere.
A proposal to place accommodation for 1,256 people beside a village of around 350 deserves serious scrutiny over infrastructure, services and local consent.
Sources
The Times: Patriot Platform says Piddington is its next target
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