A former care home has been designated as a site for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UAS), with the local community receiving no forewarning.

Kent County Council (KCC), which has a legal obligation to care for young people arriving in the UK by cross-Channel small boats, has identified Connors House in Craddock Road, Canterbury, as the latest building to accommodate them.

A two-page letter was posted through the letterboxes of nearby residents on Wednesday, July 30.

Connors House, which is owned by the council and currently empty, would be a temporary home for up to 50 youngsters aged 16 and 17 from April next year.

The facility will be staffed 24 hours a day all year round and is designed for a maximum 10-day stay before the children are moved on to other parts of the country.

Last year, the High Court ruled KCC has an obligation to look after all lone migrant children arriving in the county.

The council successfully argued the national transfer scheme (NTS), which compels other local authorities to take in their share of young asylum seekers, had to work properly.

But the sheer numbers coming ashore has put a huge strain on KCC to house them, and means sites like Connors House are being converted.

The KCC letter said: “It is regrettable KCC was unable to share plans for Connors House before now.

“The necessity to comply with the court ruling and accommodate all UAS children who continue to arrive in Kent, means it is not possible for KCC to consult with residents in ways it would normally and prefer to do.

“UAS children are extremely appreciative of the accommodation and support they receive from KCC and are eager to learn about, integrate and contribute to UK society.”

KCC took in 1,165 UAS children between January and June this year - an 87% increase on 624 in the same period last year.

KCC needs nine such reception centres and has so far publicly identified eight but only two are operational at the moment. New capacity at other centres will not become available until September at the earliest.

Local elected representatives were keen not to stoke up local tensions over asylum.

Canterbury city councillor Connie Nolan, who represents the area, said: “No children will be there until March next year. I have been asked to be on a local stakeholders forum and there are moves to engage with the local community.

“I understand some people have concerns but I just think that we need to be very careful.”

KCC Labour member Mel Dawkins said: “It’s a tricky situation and I suppose there could have been more engagement but this is a mandatory thing. These are very vulnerable children but they will not be there for any more than 10 days and the place is staffed round the clock all year round.

“I have no problem with the centre and it should be there to look after these young people.”

Cllr Dawkins said she was only informed about the plan a day before the letter was distributed.

Upon hearing the news. Leader of Canterbury City Council, Cllr Alan Baldock, said: "Canterbury has a very long and proud history of opening its arms and welcoming those who are in desperate need of our help and our sanctuary. I have no doubt that long tradition will be honoured today.

“These young people, who have been through a horrific and harrowing ordeal and are not yet adults, are no different.

“The community pulled together to welcome those fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

“It pulled together to support the Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s brutal war.

“And I am certain it will pull together again to help those who have travelled thousands of miles to escape their plight.

“There will be those that ask what about homes for those on your housing waiting list or living in tents in the city centre.

“To those people I would say, this is Kent County Council, rightly, fulfilling its legal duty to house young people fleeing all sorts of misery by using money from central government for this specific purpose.

“They will only be in the district for a short period of time before moving on to other parts of the country.

“This is a building not in our ownership so not available for our use.

“Canterbury City Council is doing everything in its power to help those living rough on the streets including the tents at Pin Hill and recently bought 67 new homes for affordable rent for local people. That is just the start.”

KCC leader Cllr Roger Gough said recently: “I have invited the new Secretary of State for the Home department and Secretary of State for Education to visit Kent to see the great work our staff are doing to safeguard the welfare of UAS children and the very real challenges we continue to face in doing so.

“We have an opportunity now to make positive and long-lasting changes, particularly to get the NTS working, and it is my hope that this can be done outside of court processes that we have had to resort to most recently.”

The newly-elected Labour government has pledged to stop the small boat crossings from France by “smashing” the illegal people smuggling operations.