Residents living near a former RAF base being considered as accommodation for asylum seekers have spoken of their concerns about the impact on their community.
The Home Office is considering using the former RAF Linton-on-Ouse site, near York, to house up to 1,200 asylum seekers – although no final decision has been made.
Some villagers said they were worried about the scale of the proposal and a lack of information about what it could mean for the area.
Resident Howard Cooper said: “Probably only 300 men live in the village at the moment and you’re looking at putting five times that on a site close by.”
The government has said activities and transport would be provided to minimise the impact on local communities, but Cooper questioned how that would work in practice.
“If you’re going to transport 1,200 people you’re going to need 40 coaches, so that’s 80 movements a day to get people off the base,” he said.
“It’s just unworkable and very worrying.”
