Hastings’ domestic housing problems are worse than fears over migration

For what it is worth I have yet to meet or hear of residents expressing ‘deep unease and concern’ with the arrival of the 52 migrants as mentioned by MP Sally Ann Hart in the Observer of Friday, May 8th.

Of course we should express concern over such events but the concern should be directed towards the migrants welfare alongside due pride in our Coastguard and the RNLI. The use of such loose terminology as ‘deep unease’ by our MP serves little purpose but to stoke the fires of resentment and paranoia over what is after all a tiny number of persons looking for a better life. To garnish the point with mention of Covid-19 is proof if proof were needed of the irrationality of such opinion.

Her further concern as to them being housed in Hastings, ably rebuffed by the actual facts as mentioned in the piece, is nothing more than nimbyism. Perhaps she should turn her gaze towards the numerous examples of sub-par housing and sub-par stewardship by landlords that were it that these migrants were housed here, they would be unfortunate enough to experience. These housing problems are very much in her backyard.