Pensioners fuming as hotel cancels their wedding due to migrants

A couple have been left devastated after a hotel cancelled their dream wedding because it has been booked out for asylum seekers. Chris Wise, 74, and Carole Haragan, 68, booked their wedding at a hotel in Ashford, Kent, for next August after months searching for the “perfect” location. But while they were on holiday last week, Ms Haragan received a phone call saying her wedding was cancelled as the hotel is now being used by asylum seekers.Mr Wise said: “It was five months ago that we booked it and paid the deposit. We were in a state of shock and angry because we thought we had a contract with them and they totally ignored it.”They gave us our money back as if that was the end of it. There are people who are in a worse position than us because their weddings are this year, at least we have got a bit of time.”The hotel was blaming the Government, but it’s a commercial decision. They booked every room in that hotel until the end of December next year; they will get hundreds of thousands of pounds for this.”The couple, who live in Kennington, near Ashford, are now in talks with a new venue. The pair were due to get married next year (Image: SWNS)But they say more needs to be done to find more suitable locations to house asylum seekers.Mr Wise added: “Other councils with the same problems got a temporary injunction preventing it happening until it was assessed whether that hotel was actually suitable.”Nothing like that has happened in Ashford. It shows a total disregard for the people who live in the town.”The Home Office now has two huge hotels in Ashford full of asylum seekers. They have got to go somewhere of course, but this asylum problem is a national problem, not a Kent problem. The rest of the country should be doing their bit.”READ MORE: Mum branded ‘disgusting’ after feeding daughter’s vegan friend meatEarlier this week, Ashford Borough Council leader Gerry Clarkson said the situation cannot continue.He added: “We have no control over this decision at all and are extremely angry at the Home Office on how they have handled this situation.”They have ignored not only our views, but those of Kent County Council, Kent Police and local health services. They have shown a complete disregard for us and the local community, and this situation cannot continue.”All Kent and Medway local authority leaders are writing jointly to the Secretary of State for the Home Office to ask her to stop using the county as an easy fix for what is a national, strategic issue.”DON’T MISS:’Sunak taxing business will just see clever avoidance’ [INSIGHT]Putin fuels speculation after awkwardly getting out of limo [PICTURES]’When Russia retreats NATO missiles will take out tanks’ [COMMENT] Concerns have been raised over living conditions for migrants (Image: Getty)In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.”The use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6million a day.”The use of hotels is a short-term solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation.”