Crawley: Chagos Islanders leave leisure centre after UK arrival

Posted by author June 17, 2024 Football

7 hours ago

By Amy Walker, BBC News, South East

BBC/George Carden Chagos Islanders outside K2 Crawley — A group of Chagos Islanders stayed at K2 leisure centre in Crawley last week

Chagos Islanders who were sleeping at a leisure centre in West Sussex after arriving at Gatwick Airport last week have now moved on to alternative accommodation, a council has said.

A Crawley Borough Council spokesperson said some of the group had “found” accommodation, while those who had not were being offered shelter elsewhere while they “find themselves somewhere to stay”.

But it added that the situation was not “sustainable” and that it would not offer alternative accommodation to any new arrivals who did not qualify for emergency housing.

It comes after the council said a “significant number” of people from Mauritius had arrived at the airport last week.

The government launched a British citizenship route for people of Chagossian descent in November 2022.

This was to recognise the role Britain played in expelling islanders in the 1960s and 1970s in order for a US military base to be built.

It is not known how many people have arrived in the UK since last week, nor what form of alternative accommodation some of the arrivals have moved to.

Crawley Borough Council has been contacted for comment.

One of the group staying in the leisure centre last week told the BBC that they had travelled to Gatwick after receiving their passport.

The council previously said it had assessed arrivals against its statutory housing duties, with some offered emergency accommodation and those who did not qualify provided shelter at the leisure centre.

It is understood that families with children were accommodated in hotels.

But in a statement issued on Friday, the council said: “This situation was to meet an unprecedented need but is simply not sustainable.

“New arrivals not eligible for emergency accommodation will not be offered alternative accommodation by Crawley Borough Council.”

The government has previously said it was working with councils to help them manage arrivals.

But it said guidance to Chagossian British citizens moving to the UK sets out that they should make their own accommodation arrangements before travelling.