TEACHERS are being brought into a hotel near Southend Airport which is being used to house more than 100 asylum seekers, a councillor has said.

The Skylark Hotel, off Aviation Way, remains closed to the public and is housing 116 people seeking asylum, according to Arthur Williams, Rochford councillor responsible for communities and health.

He has told the Echo that the asylum seekers are settling in well and “getting on with their lives”.

It is claimed the hotel could be used to house asylum seekers for around a year.

Mr Williams claims the group includes eight families, and teachers are going into the hotel to provide education for the children.

He said: “I do not know which country they are all from but I think some are from Afghanistan.

“It is still shut to the public and solely for this use, and this is under contract with the government.

“They have a contract for approximately a year’s contingency accommodation.”

READ MORE >>>

He added: “ These people are going through difficult times and it seems to be working well.

“The children are having an education team go in to assess the situation and I believe the children are being educated on site.

“I understand it’s education workers from Essex County Council.”

Mr Williams added Rochford Council is “doing all it can to make the experience as human as possible” for the asylum seekers.

The Home Office has not commented on the use of the hotel for asylum seekers, with a spokesman previously stating: “We are dealing with an unprecedented increase in asylum cases but despite this we continue to ensure that the accommodation provided is safe, secure and leaves no one destitute.”

Earlier this year, it was revealed the Chichester Hotel, in Wickford, was being used for housing asylum seekers.

However, Wickford and Rayleigh MP Mark Francois has since confirmed a contract between the hotel and Home Office will end in October and see the asylum seekers moved out.

The Skylark Hotel was contacted several times by the Echo for comment but did not respond.