CAMPAIGNERS against a plan to turn Sittingbourne's Coniston Hotel into an induction centre to house asylum seekers are tonight (Friday) holding the latest in a series of demonstrations.

They will march through the High Street to the hotel, starting at 7pm. Leading protestor Sandra Kennett was today busy drumming up last-minute support for the three-hour demo.

She said: “We have had a good response this time and I think that, as it has gone on, people are feeling much stronger about this issue. We will keep on doing this until we get an answer.”

Last night, a fresh public meeting was held to debate the issue. Around 200 people gathered at Wyvern Hall to allow locals unable to attend the January 24 meeting to air their views. This time, however, there were several empty seats.

Powerful speeches demanding the community fight to keep the town’s only hotel and criticism over the National Asylum Support Service’s handling of the consultation process dominated the two-hour gathering.

Businessman Clive Eglinton claimed the hotel was “a social hub” and at the heart of the community. He said: “The Coniston Hotel means a great deal to local people.”

Chris Edwards, Swale Borough Council’s chief executive, told the meeting he had received a letter from the Home Office announcing an independent inquiry into the way the consultation process was carried out.

He said: “We are making the point that this was not done properly and we’ve been left in a very difficult position.

“We are taking all the legal advice we can and trying to make sure we represent the views of the community to challenge this.”