Residents of tiny Welsh community left ‘blindsided’ after migrant families are secretly moved into former village hall

RESIDENTS of a tiny ­community say they have been blindsided by plans to house asylum seekers in their old village hall. Locals were expecting the new homes to be put up for rent on the market but were shocked to discover the Home Office had already moved migrant families in. Migrant families have moved in to newbuild properties in a North Wales ­village Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2026 Asylum seekers will be housed in the former village hall Credit: Flintshire County Council Earlier this year, the Government promised to stop housing ­asylum seekers in newbuilds after The Sun revealed an entire street had been designated as migrant housing. But out of the 15 new units in the North Wales ­village, 13 have been taken over by Clearsprings, the Government contractor run by asylum billionaire Graham King. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Gronant in Flintshire has a population of just 1,600, with residents fearing new arrivals will put pressure on stretched resources. Kerrie Cox, 39, lives near the new asylum accommodation and said: “No-one was notified whatsoever. “I was washing my car and a blacked out minibus arrived and seven people got out, five males and two females. “We had been told the properties were to be leased out or sold with a promise of them going as social housing. “Everyone is in shock. We have had the police here all day and night. “We don’t normally have a police presence around here. Most read in The Sun New homes at the village hall site in Gronant in Flintshire Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2026 “I feel betrayed by the Government as a taxpayer.” Julie Tuson, 65, said: “We want to know who is coming and vetted. “If we want a better Britain, we all have to be involved. We were not told about it. I feel absolutely betrayed by the Government.” Her partner Robert Bagshaw, 64, said: “They wouldn’t have a ­consultation beforehand because they would know the outcome. It’s definitely the wrong area.” Laurie Gilmour, 29, said: “The feeling in the village is one of anger and uncertainty. “It’s about not knowing who will be there. Who would want a load of random people moving into a village? “It’s the wrong area. There’s nothing here.” Keith Williams, 57, commented: “Our homeless people should get priority. You see ex-soldiers like myself on the street.” Earlier this year, the Government promised to stop housing ­asylum seekers in newbuilds (stock image of small boat migrants) Credit: PA Residents of Gronant have started a petition urging the council to reconsider their move Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2026 Councillor Glyn Banks is seeking a meeting between the area’s Labour MP Becky Gittins, police and representatives of worried residents. He told The Sun: “It’s just too big for a small village.” Resident Joanne Gilmore has started a petition urging the council to reconsider. She pointed to problems such as “limited access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities”. Flintshire council said: “They are not illegal immigrants. “They are individuals exercising their legal right to claim asylum and deserve to be treated with compassion and respect.” A ­Government spokesman said: “The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms.”