'Not in our back yard' (From Penarth Times)

'Not in our back yard'

SHOCK plans to site 750 asylum seekers at the disused Sully hospital have caused a storm of protest.

Local people are so outraged, they collected 500 signatures on a petition within three days.

The hospital, a listed building, is on a shortlist of eight sites being looked at by the Home Office to house asylum seekers by 2003. But villagers say the plan is unsuitable for Sully Hospital, which closed in March.

Colette Dampier, of Conybeare Road, helped set up the petition.

The Sully Post Office worker said: "The elderly people here are really frightened, as there are no amenities in Sully. They are worried the people will be wandering round the village with nothing to do. They couldn't put them in a worse place. The population of Sully is only 3,400. We don't know it will be just 750. The hospital is big enough to fit a thousand."

She added: "What sort of people are they going to be? These people could be escaping from crime or anything.

"A lot of people are worried because Sully Hospital is next to Ty Hafan. Local people are outraged. They say it's going to affect property value.

"They think it's going to have a knock-on effect on Sully Primary School. The children would have to be schooled. They'll have to use our doctors."

Ms Dampier asked why the 1931-built building could not be used for another purpose. She said: "It is a lovely old building, still equipped as a hospital. It could be used for so many different purposes."

She has discussed the issue with her customers and said: "A few people have said 'I don't care, they can go anywhere', but it's a small minority. In fact, I can count them on one hand. Most have been against it. One man who has lived in Sully for over 40 years said 'no asylum seekers, not in our back yard'."

Ms Dampier suggested using Cardiff Bay for asylum seekers.

"Here is the wrong place. People are very nervous. They think there will be trouble."