Gosport’s concerns about plans for the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre have been submitted to the Government with a call to show greater transparency and listen to community voices.

Gosport Borough Council Leader Cllr Zoe Huggins BEM has written to the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, attached, asking for a community liaison panel to be set up for local people’s views to be heard by the Government.

The council has already responded to the official consultation on the proposals for the site but that will only consider specific criteria related to the planning process. The letter to Shabana Mahmood outlines wider concerns including resident concerns on their quality of life, sense of security, wellbeing and confidence in the future of their neighbourhood.

Cllr Huggins said: “The Government has taken this decision out of the hands of Gosport’s planning process and local accountability, there is currently no way for local voices to be properly heard and we are asking Government to fix that.

“It’s vital there is transparency around decisions like this and we need the opportunity to see full details of the plans and share Gosport residents’ concerns.”