RAF Linton-on-Ouse asylum proposal: Residents rally against 'unworkable' plans to house 1,200 men in rural leafy village

Residents rally against 'unworkable' plans to house 1,200 men in rural leafy village The Linton-on-Ouse Action Group said the proposal remains under consideration, despite Andy Burnham claiming he would listen to concerns Sign up to the News Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Emergency services, utility providers, local authorities, and Linton-on-Ouse residents have united to reject plans to use the former RAF base as an asylum centre in the village. Concerns have been raised about the proposal to house up to 1,200 men at the decommissioned RAF site in the village, which is home to around 700 residents. The proposal has been branded "unworkable" and " the wrong plan in the wrong place" by the local action group. Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of York have written to the Home Office urging it to use the site for housing rather than an asylum centre, with North Yorkshire County Council also formally opposing the plan. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say But the Linton-On-Ouse Action Group said the proposal remains under consideration, despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham claiming three times on national television a month ago that he would listen to concerns. Professor Olga Matthias, spokeswoman for the Linton‑on‑Ouse Action Group, said: "As stated by all stakeholders, without urgent infrastructure upgrades, professional staffing and proper safeguarding, additional funding for fire and police, health and social care, housing large numbers of vulnerable people at the former RAF site poses unacceptable risks to both asylum seekers and the local community, which is why every single stakeholder has said no to the proposal." She added: "It is a real shame that Mr Burnham, who publicly pledged to listen to us on national television, has not, and he is definitely not fulfilling his promise of devolving power as he is not listening to our Mayor either - we are starting to think he is full of hot air or as they say up north all mouth and no trousers." Prof Matthias also revealed to GB News that neither the campaign group nor the village has had any contact from the Government since it announced it was reviving the plans four months ago. Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, continues to fight the plans in his Linton-On-Ouse constituency, but has been deferred to the civil service. He previously told GB News the "only people supporting this plan are the Labour Government". Linton-on-Ouse residents have united to reject plans to use the former RAF base as an asylum centre in the village | PA Campaigners in Linton-on-Ouse have urged a government investigation after claims that it could cost taxpayers £270million. The Linton-on-Ouse Action Group has written to the Chancellor, demanding a full financial review before the government uses public money to convert the former RAF base on the edge of the village in North Yorkshire. The group claims the centre could cost between £443 and £853 per occupied bed per night, depending on occupancy levels, significantly more than the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels. But the Home Office says its plan to close asylum hotels and move people into alternative accommodation is saving taxpayers money. A spokesman said: "The government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1billion on asylum support since the election. "We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites which are designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community. As part of the process, we engage with local authorities and police forces to ensure the safety and security of those in the surrounding area." Concerns have been raised about the proposal to house up to 1,200 men at the decommissioned RAF site in the village | PA LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Shabana Mahmood faces pressure from Labour frontbenchers to water down 'Boriswave' migrant crackdown Home Office refuses to rule out more Channel migrants arriving in Gosport despite furious protests Rhiannon Whyte's mum slams Labour for illegal crossings two years on from daughter's murder The proposal has been branded 'unworkable' and 'the wrong plan in the wrong place' by the local action group | PA In an open letter to Chancellor John Healey, the group claims North Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) may have to take back RAF Linton-on-Ouse by July 2029. They also say the site has been extensively decommissioned; reinstating water, sewerage, power, and communications would be costly, time‑consuming, and extremely difficult at this rural site. According to the group, local health, policing, fire, social services, and voluntary providers cannot meet the scale of need without unacceptable pressures on existing provisions, meaning asylum seekers would essentially go without key services. The group added that proceeding with the centre despite unanimous local opposition would call into question commitments to listen to regional mayors and residents, truly devolve decision‑making, and operate in a democracy. RAF Linton opened in 1937 and became an important bomber station during the Second World War, when British and Canadian airmen flew dangerous missions against the Nazis. The base closed in 2020 and was subsequently proposed as an asylum reception centre by Boris Johnson's Conservative government in 2022. The Linton-on-Ouse Action Group said the proposal remains under consideration | PA Those plans were eventually shelved after tireless opposition from residents, only for Labour to announce this year they were once again looking at housing asylum seekers. Back then, the plans were branded the UK’s answer to "Guantanamo Bay", dubbing it "Guantanamo-on-Ouse". Under the latest proposals, the former RAF base would house single adult male asylum seekers aged 18 to 65, with CCTV and 24-hour security. The men would be free to come and go, but would be required to sign in and out. Labour said the scheme would operate for a minimum of three years and cut Britain’s reliance on expensive asylum hotels. Unlike other isolated military camps earmarked for asylum processing, RAF Linton is embedded in residential streets and cul-de-sacs. Many homes backing onto the former RAF base could house asylum seekers, and a children's playground is also nearby. Linton-on-Ouse Action Group will keep campaigning against the plans, and the Home Office says it has not yet made a final decision. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter News Thousands of small boat migrants preparing to set sail to UK despite Andy Burnham hailing Labour's record News UK's 'most depressing' pumpkin patch compared to Willy Wonka event that left tourists fuming News Jeffrey Donaldson facing new police probe over alleged rape of woman in Parliament News EU drowning in illegal black market as Brussels admits it does not know how big black hole is Exclusive News British man loses fight to regain citizenship after threatening to attack politician who burned Koran News Man charged over murder of Alisha Samuels in Greater Manchester stabbing News Teachers could be banned from wearing Palestine badges after review of antisemitism in schools News Teenage boy, 16, found guilty of attempted murder of girl, 15, after stabbing her in the back at school News Man charged after three Jewish women assaulted in East London News Woman mauled to death by shark ‘while swimming with group’ as popular tourist beach forced to close News Coats, blankets and instant noodles given to chilly criminals after prison heating system failed News Student who stabbed his housemate 30 times admits murder Exclusive News NHS loses over £15.6million every year as overseas mothers leave maternity bills unpaid News Covid care home failure let virus 'spread like wildfire' as Tories accused of 'cruel lie' News Home Office refuses to rule out more Channel migrants arriving in Gosport despite furious protests News Two men re-arrested in RAF Fairford investigation on suspicion of assisting Iran News RAF jet which burst into flames was 'flying without fuel cap' as new details emerge News Travellers descend on £1.5million leafy London suburb next to ancient woodland News A-Level textbook teaches students Chinese 'propaganda' and that Britain needs closer ties with Beijing News NHS 'over-reliant' on overseas funding as health service 'lost £100m due to falling immigration' News Birmingham state-funded HMO housing linked to third of city's murders in the last two years Exclusive News Rhiannon Whyte's mother slams Labour for 'allowing illegals to come over' two years on from daughter's murder News Three children rushed to hospital as school bus crashes into railway bridge in Wales News Man charged over 'targeted attack' on Australian MP struck by car outside office News British Airways flight intercepted by Nato fighter jets after radio silence News Serious criminals detained in hospital to no longer receive benefits News Army vehicles could be 'stranded in full view of the enemy' after £2billion cut to fill defence black hole Exclusive News 'It makes me sick!' UK Special Forces veteran calls for urgent legal protections after troops sent to hunt down Isis faced 'devastating' murder probe News Half of primary teachers report rise in child neglect referrals as social services struggle to cope Exclusive News Britain braced for mass protests as 'reckless' activists exploit tensions throughout Europe