A council controlled by the Reform party is taking legal action against three hotels being used to house asylum seekers. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is issuing Planning Contravention Notices to the owners of three hotels currently accommodating asylum seekers.

The Ibis in Crick, the Holiday Inn in Flore and the MK Hotel in Deanshanger are all under scrutiny. These establishments are being utilised by the Home Office for asylum accommodation. Council leaders suspect that there may have been a breach of planning control at these hotels. Issuing these notices is the initial formal step towards gathering more information before deciding if enforcement action is necessary.

WNC has already initiated legal and planning actions in response to the ongoing court case of Epping Forest District Council. Council Leader Mark Arnull stated: "By accommodating asylum seekers, we believe these hotels may have a case to answer for breaching planning control, and these notices are the first formal step in allowing us to investigate further."

He added: "The recent Epping Court of Appeal hearing highlighted the importance of ensuring the full planning enforcement process is followed if councils are looking to take action against the use of hotels in their area as asylum accommodation and that's what we're doing in West Northants.

"With the Home Office's use of these hotels in our area placing an unsustainable strain on our local services and with residents continuing to raise concerns, we will look at using whatever powers we have to address these issues."

The hotel proprietors have 21 days to respond to the notice and failure to do so constitutes an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, according to WNC.

Councillors will debate the current use of the hotels at an extraordinary council meeting on September 16.

Councillor Daniel Lister, who proposed the meeting, said: "Following the judgement of Mr Justice Eyre on 19 August, granting Epping Forest District Council an injunction to prevent the inappropriate use of the Bell Hotel in its district as an asylum seeker centre, this Council resolves to instruct, without delay, suitably qualified legal counsel to represent West Northamptonshire Council in seeking an interim injunction against the owners of the Ibis Hotel, Crick, the Holiday Inn, Flore, and the MK Hotel, Deanshanger, to prevent their use as asylum seeker centres.

"Council further calls upon all members to support this motion."