Longford residents stage peaceful protest against proposed asylum seeker centre

Concerned locals who are opposed to plans to accommodate families seeking international protection at the Westhouse Café and B&B in Longford staged a peaceful protest outside the property on Easter Saturday. 

It emerged earlier this week that contracts had been signed for the proposed asylum seeker accommodation centre which can cater for up to twenty-four people. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth confirmed to Longford Leader / Longford Live that:

"A new accommodation centre at the Westhouse B&B, Strokestown Road, Lissnurlan, Co Longford is coming on stream and will be ready for new arrivals shortly."

The spokesperson added, "It has capacity for 24 people and will accommodate families seeking international protection."

It is understood that local political representatives were informed of the plan via email from Dept of Integration officials last Monday night.

And this outlined that a twelve month contract had been signed with the owner of the property, Freda Farrell.

Huge concern has been expressed locally over the suitability of Westhouse Café and B&B as a location for a new accommodation centre as it is situated on one of the busiest roads, N5, in county Longford.

There was also stinging criticism of the lack of consultation with elected representatives and the local community on the proposed move.

At a tense public meeting on Thursday night, Longford / Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty informed the large gathering that the number of expected new arrivals had been reduced from 24 to 19.

The meeting was also addressed by concerned locals, Ms Farrell and John McPhillips, a Monaghan based business man, of PMJ Contract Services Ltd had taken out a lease to operate the site as part of the agreement.

In the wake of the public meeting, residents of the Lisanurlan, Augherea and surrounding townlands decided to organise a peaceful protest for Easter Saturday afternoon at Westhouse Café. 

Those in attendance at the protest carried placards proclaiming: 'This Community Says No'; 'Our Families Matter Too'; 'Protect Our Children' and 'Greed is an awful disease'. 

Separately, when asked about plans to accommodate Ukrainian families fleeing the war at the Park House Hotel in Edgeworthstown, something that was raised at a recent meeting of Longford County Council, the spokesperson replied,

"The Department can only confirm use of a premises once a contract has been signed, and will, in the first instance, inform local public representatives and statutory agencies through its Community Engagement Team."