A HOLIDAY Inn in Maidenhead will be closed to the public as it will be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

The Home Office will shortly be using the Holiday Inn in Manor Lane to house refugees while their claims for sanctuary and protection in the UK are assessed.

This will mean there will be no public access to the hotel and to its Spirit Health Club from April 1. All gym memberships are set to be cancelled as well.

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The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council has been informed about this arrangement between the Holiday Inn and the Home Office.

Chief executive of the council, Duncan Sharkey, said the local authority was not involved in this arrangement nor will it be involved in the running of the site or provision of day-to-day services as it will be handled by the Home Office.

He said: “We will continue to liaise with the Home Office, NHS services and other partners with respect to our statutory duties.

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“This is a national situation and there are more than 100 hotels nationally operating as accommodation sites for asylum seekers, including in other parts of Berkshire.

“In recent weeks, we have seen the heart-warming way our community has rallied quickly, generously and compassionately to support Ukrainian refugees coming to the Royal Borough, and I hope the asylum seekers will receive an equally warm welcome from the vast majority of residents.”

The hotel in Manor Lane has previously been used by the council to host meetings, such as the controversial borough local plan in February.