Council hints at appeal bid following High Court refusal of asylum hotel injunction

The council had applied for an injunction in August, following protests in Epping over the hotel's use.

The High Court granted the council’s interim injunction application. However, this was later overturned in the Court of Appeal.

Mr Justice Mould then refused the final injunction application earlier this month (11 November), after finding that the hotel's use did not cause serious harm and was not a case where an injunction is "just and convenient".

A spokesperson for the council said: "The Home Office, Somani and Clearsprings Ready Homes will not be discussing their legal position in public, and neither will we.

"Constitutionally, we must start the council meeting in public, but it will be a one item agenda. The first substantive item will therefore be to move into private session, at which point (assuming councillors agree) members of the public would be asked to leave."

It added: "Privacy is absolutely essential at this stage if we are to ensure the council is best placed to achieve the best outcome for our residents."

The council also noted that it had to apply to the High Court for permission to lodge an appeal by no later than 18 November.

The update read: "The earliest the council can reasonably hold an extraordinary council meeting is Tuesday, 25 November.

"However, an application to appeal is not binding and the council could subsequently withdraw without further significant costs."

The council said it is also exploring other planning enforcement options against Somani Hotels, which runs the Bell Hotel, for alleged breach of planning controls.

Adam Carey