Local Residents Cry Out as Asylum Seekers Loiter and Ask for Money – But What They Do Next Is Even

People living near the Sandpiper Hotel in the countryside close to Chesterfield are begging the government to shut it down. The hotel used to be a quiet and peaceful place, popular with tourists. But for the past two years, it has been used to house asylum seekers, and many locals say this has completely changed the atmosphere in the area.

The residents say they are no longer comfortable in their own neighborhood. They talk about groups of men walking around at all hours, some asking for money, others staring into people’s windows, or just hanging around doing nothing. Some women have said they feel scared walking past the hotel or using the nearby trails, especially after hearing stories of men following them through parks or standing around in groups near their homes. Some families have even installed security cameras because they no longer feel safe.

One woman who has lived in the area for three years said that at first, everything seemed fine. But in the past six months, the behavior of some of the men has changed. She said there were warnings on social media about women being followed on a trail near the hotel, and now she avoids walking there.

Another resident, a young mother, said she gets approached by men from the hotel asking for money when she gets off the bus. She feels uncomfortable and avoids being outside alone. She also worries about the safety of her children and wonders why the hotel was chosen for this purpose in such a quiet family area. She pointed out that while many of the asylum seekers seem okay, a few of them make the place feel unsafe for everyone.

Gary Cook, whose family used to run the hotel, said it’s sad to see how things have gone downhill. He thinks the hotel is no longer fit for its purpose and believes the groups who own it are only interested in money, not the local community. He also said that the hotel being used this way has caused house prices in the area to drop.

Another local woman said that when her daughter comes home from school, she no longer feels safe walking alone. She now walks to pick her up because of the strange behavior reported around the hotel. Others mentioned seeing men walking the streets at night carrying bats or golf clubs. They doubt these men are going to play sports, and this kind of thing has left families feeling uneasy.

Several people said it’s not fair that they weren’t even told what was going to happen. One day the hotel was empty, and the next, groups of men had moved in. No one explained anything to the people living nearby, and they feel ignored. A woman said she doesn’t want to be seen as racist or mean, but she believes people should follow the rules, behave properly, and clean up after themselves if they’re given shelter. Instead, she sees people throwing litter on the ground, sitting around smoking, or being rude to passersby.

One older man said he’s upset that the asylum seekers seem to get everything without giving anything back. He said they throw their coffee cups on the ground and don’t respect the area. He also said there’s no one to talk to anymore—he used to be able to call the hotel if there was a problem, but now there’s no phone number and no one listens when residents try to speak up.

Another woman shared that her teenage daughter loves jogging but is now too afraid to go out alone because there are always groups of men around. She said she doesn’t know their backgrounds and worries about who might be following her. Even though she wants to believe people come here for a better life, she also believes that the safety of local families should come first.

In December, police were called to the hotel because a man staying there was acting suspiciously. He was arrested on suspicion of having explosives, although later the police said nothing dangerous was found and he was let out on bail while they continued to investigate. Still, this incident added to the fear and unease already spreading through the community.

Some people said they feel stuck. They’re afraid to complain openly because they don’t want to be labeled racist, even though their concerns are about safety and behavior—not race. One woman said her neighbors have stopped letting their kids walk the dog or go to the park alone because they don’t feel safe anymore. She added that if nothing changes, she and her family might have to move away.

Others said it’s just sad to see what used to be a lovely hotel and quiet neighborhood turn into a place where people feel unsafe and unheard. They say they just want their peaceful lives back, and many are losing hope that anything will be done about it.