Another virtual community engagement meeting is being held to answer residents’ questions regarding the Home Office’s use of Napier Barracks to house temporarily those seeking asylum in the UK.

Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) is organising the online event, which will be streamed live on YouTube on Thursday 27 May at 3.30pm.

The meeting will be chaired by F&HDC Leader, Cllr David Monk.

Folkestone & Hythe MP Damian Collins will be on the panel for the meeting and the leader of Kent County Council, Cllr Roger Gough. Representatives from the Home Office, Kent Police, Migrant Help and KCC Public Health have also been invited to attend.

Questions are requested ahead of the meeting and should be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 20 May via the council website www.folkestonehythe.gov.uk/napierbarracks/home-office or can be sent in writing to Committee Services, Folkestone & Hythe District Council, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 2QY.

A council spokesperson said: “We understand that our residents may still have questions about the continued use of the barracks in Folkestone and we want to bring together the Home Office and those involved in providing support services to provide the answers to those questions.

“It may not be possible to answer every question individually so our intention is that themes raised by residents will be discussed by the panel.

“We hope that the event will reassure our residents that despite not being involved in the decision to use Napier Barracks we are prepared to organise and lead this virtual meeting to ensure that our communities are provided with the answers they are seeking.”

Enquiries may be rejected – as is standard council practice – if they are considered to be defamatory, frivolous or offensive.

Members of the public will be able to watch the meeting by visiting bit.ly/YouTubeMeetings

By Ed

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