A petition has been launched to push for answers over the resettlement of people from Afghanistan in Bracknell.
For years, Bracknell Forest Council has been involved in preparing to resettle refugees from Afghanistan in schemes by the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government.
Neighbours are now pushing for answers on the impact resettlement of people from Afghanistan may have on communities in Bracknell Forest.
Their questions have been put in a petition on Change.org started by Ashley Bower-Dyke.
It states: “In light of recent events surrounding the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), it is imperative that Bracknell Forest Council commits to full and proper scrutiny of how the scheme has been delivered locally.
“We the undersigned call on the council to: organise a public meeting where residents can ask questions and receive clear answers, and reaffirm its commitment to free speech, and support the right of councillors and residents to raise legitimate concerns without being dismissed, silenced, or unfairly labelled.”
The petition also calls for a formal scrutiny session to be undertaken by the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Commission.
The commission is in charge of scrutinising council policies, and is currently chaired by councillor Georgia Pickering (Labour, Binfield South & Jennett’s Park).
It is made up of six Labour, three Conservatives, two Liberal Democrats and one Green councillor.
The petition states: “We believe this scrutiny must include:
The scheme’s impact on local services, including housing, school admissions, SEND provision, and healthcare
How safeguarding and vetting concerns are being addressed locally, given the Council has admitted it holds no vetting information and national reports have raised serious questions about the integrity of the process
What mitigation measures the Council has put in place — or plans to — to manage risk, reassure the public, and support all residents fairly.”
The petition also refers to a hotel that people are staying at, implying it is being used by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to assist in resettlement.
The council has confirmed that people are staying in a transitional hotel, which is understood to be The Grange Hotel in the town centre, which officially closed down in December 2022.
The council has also clarified the people staying in the hotel have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
The petition asks: “What commitment will the council make about the hotel’s future use once the MOD vacates, including a clear undertaking that it will not be used for future resettlement schemes, asylum accommodation, or temporary housing without full public consultation and disclosure.
“The public deserves transparency on decisions that affect their communities. Councillors deserve full access to the facts. And residents deserve to know their concerns will not be ignored.
“This is about openness, safety, and restoring trust in how local services are managed.
“We urge the council to act now.”
So far, the petition has received 50 signatures. You can sign it on Change.org.
Questions about the ARP are answered on the council’s ‘Afghan resettlement programme information’ webpage.
