A council leader has accused the Home Secretary of creating tensions in the community because of a lack of transparency over moving asylum seekers into a hotel.

Earlier this week, Gravesham Borough Council confirmed the Home Office is looking to use The Granby Hotel, in Northfleet, to house around 70 people.

In a letter to MP Suella Braverman dated Wednesday, leader of the council Cllr John Burden addressed his "immense frustration and significant concerns" over the plans.

He said: "This has created local community tensions alongside adding significant pressure and cost to frontline service delivery across the local public sector system.

"Social media postings made by those holding extremist views in response to these notices now being issued have carried such significant concern that they have been raised with both the counter-terrorism and PREVENT teams accordingly.

"These are exactly the sort of issues we have been warning your officials about since contact was first made regarding use of this hotel.

"As a council, we cannot condone or support the use of the Granby and remain frustrated with the lack of answers around realistic concerns and challenges that have been highlighted.

"The risks to local services, our community and the asylum seekers being placed in the hotel are too great to ignore and therefore we remain in a firm position of believing that this facility is not suitable for accommodating asylum seekers."

Cllr Burden also addressed the "significant housing pressures" felt by the council as its saw the number of households looking for assistance over the past year double.

He added: "Furthermore, there has been a two-and-a-half-fold increase in households in temporary accommodation and we have the highest known number of households in this type of accommodation at over 200, forecast to cost in the region of £1.8m by the end of this financial year.

"Government financial support towards the cost of homelessness this year has amounted to just over £400,000 – or little over 20% - placing an unsustainable pressure on the local authority and local taxpayers."

The letter to the Home Secretary raised further concerns over the lack of risk assessments, responses and transparency over when the hotel in The Hill will be used and what will be happening to long-term residents.

It is understood by KentOnline those living at the Granby were told on Saturday, January 28 they would need to find new accommodation by Wednesday, February 1.

"The use of hotels to house asylum seekers is a temporary solution..."

Cllr Burden said the local authority was told this was happening by Gravesham MP Adam Holloway and it had not been raised by government officials in any discussions.

The Labour councillor added: "This is a totally unacceptable way for us to find out that such notices were being issued when we have been having weekly or twice-weekly meetings with your officials and a predicament that the council should not be in."

The letter states weekly meetings with the council, Home Office and Clear Springs – a company which works on behalf of the government department – have been taking place since December 2022.

Cllr Burden also claims the government department has not responded to letters from the council or Kent County Council despite being told these would be received before anybody moved in.

The letter added: "We are now informed that the hotel is potentially to be used for asylum purposes with effect from today."

The Home Office would not confirm its intentions for the use of The Granby Hotel but a spokesman said it works with local authorities to ensure the safety for local people and hotel residents.

"The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain," they added.

"We engage with local authorities as early as possible whenever sites are used for asylum accommodation and work to ensure arrangements are safe for hotel residents and local people.

"The use of hotels is a temporary solution, and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation."