Epping council wins high court bid to stop hotel housing asylum seekers

Epping district council had cited disruption and safety concerns, as well as alleged breach of planning law

A hotel housing asylum seekers that has attracted repeated violent far-right demonstrations has been ordered closed down by a high court judge.

Mr Justice Eyre granted an urgent request for an interim injunction against the owners of the Bell hotel in Epping, Essex, after hearing the local council’s complaints that they were breaching planning law by changing the site’s use.