Bell Hotel LIVE: Home Office launches appeal over ban on housing Epping migrants

The Home Office's bid to challenge the decision to temporarily block the owner of the Bell Hotel in Epping from housing asylum seekers is due to get underway at the Court of Appeal. Last week, Mr Justice Eyre granted an interim injunction to Epping Forest District Council, stopping the hotel's owner, Somani Hotels, from using the Essex hotel to accommodate asylum seekers beyond September 12.

The authority asked for an injunction to be granted after the hotel became the focal point of several protests and counter-protests in recent weeks. The Home Office and Somani Hotels will both seek to challenge the ruling at a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, with the department also in a bid to appeal against Mr Justice Eyre's decision not to let it intervene in the case. The hearing before Lord Justice Bean, Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb is due to start at 10am.

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