RUMOURS a former Chalkwell care home was set to be used to house asylum-seekers have been quashed.

Elkington House in Imperial Avenue was closed at the end of January 2022 and has remained unused since.

The home was operated by the Southend Blind Welfare Organisation; the charity took the decision to close the home following a reduction in demand for its specialist services.

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Since then, questions have remained regarding the use of the property.

Rumours have been circulating on social media that the building was being earmarked for use as asylum-seeker accommodation.

The rumours followed the adaptation of the Skylark Hotel in Rochford for use to house more than 100 people seeking asylum.

Southend West MP Anna Firth met with the Minister for Immigration Robert Jenrick MP at the Home Office this week to seek urgent clarification on the matter.

She fielded residents’ concerns which included the care home’s close proximity to residential areas and the increased demand it would bring on public services.

The Minister confirmed that there were no plans to utilise the site as asylum accommodation and that reforms are underway to end this practice entirely.

Ms Firth said: “I very much welcome this news for Chalkwell residents, and the Home Office’s focus on fixing our broken asylum system so local communities aren’t made to bare the brunt of criminal human traffickers.”

“I want to thank our hardworking Chalkwell councillors and local residents for also making me aware of this issue, which has now been clarified.”