Vessel to Accommodate Migrants

Following today’s announcement by the Government regarding the siting of a vessel to accommodate migrants, the Chair of Portland Town Council, Jim Draper, has made the following statement:

It would be inappropriate to house refugees, some of the most vulnerable people in the world, on board a ship in Portland Port.  We have had experience of HMP Weare; the floating prison which, even for housing convicted prisoners, was problematic. Access problems through a secure area would exacerbate this problem and Portland does not have the infrastructure to service the needs of 500 additional residents. We consider the idea to be hastily thought out, highly impractical and of dubious morality. Portland Town Council strongly objects to these proposals.