The council has since taken enforcement action to prevent the hotel from changing use. The hotel has already cut ties with the Best Western brand and the Peterborough Telegraph understands the hotel was due to close to the public on December 17. However, the Home Office told the council that asylum seekers could start arriving as early as this weekend. A council spokesman said: “Peterborough is a welcoming and tolerant place and currently shelters more than 300 asylum seekers, more than any other city or town in the east of England. “We have taken enforcement action today to prevent the Great Northern Hotel from being changed to allow it to be used for further asylum seekers, not only because our own resources to welcome and assist genuine asylum seekers have been stretched to the limit; but because of the risks to our city and the UK’s strategic infrastructure. “The Great Northern – a rail hotel – is located at one of the country’s major rail hubs, so any issues of heightened tension or threats in the area could disrupt an important communication route for both people and goods.” The Great Northern Hotel on Station Road. Peterborough MP Paul Bristow also opposed the move. He tweeted: “Last night I was told that the Great North could be used to host asylum seekers who have traveled here ILLEGALLY on small boats. “This is a historic hotel in the center of the city. It’s a wrong choice. “I oppose it and will do everything I can to make sure it’s a hotel again.” read more Peterborough’s historic Great Northern Hotel is cutting ties with Best West…
