Migrant barge is a ‘necessity’ with almost two-thirds supporting Bibby Stockholm

The Bibby Stockholm migrant barge arrived in Dorset earlier this week and will house 500 male asylum seekers later this month. The Government’s use of the vessel has been supported by 65 percent of Express.co.uk readers, a new poll has shown. The barge in Portland Port is the first of its kind in the UK, with Downing Street claiming that it is a cheaper alternative to accommodating them in hotels, which costs taxpayers £6million a day. The Home Office said that ‘using vessels as alternative accommodation, like our European neighbours are already doing, will be better value for British taxpayers and more manageable for communities than costly hotels’. The barge’s arrival on Tuesday was met with protesters campaigning against the vessel being located in the popular tourist destination. Members of the NO TO THE BARGE Group said that they ‘don’t feel safe in their own town’. They were joined by counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism who welcomed refugees to the area but argued they should not be housed on a ‘floating prison’. Some 65 percent of readers support the Government using barges to house asylum seekers (Image: Getty) In a poll that ran from 10.45pm on Tuesday, July 18, to 11.45am on Thursday, July 20, Express.co.uk asked readers : ‘Should Government be housing 500 asylum seekers on Dorset barge?’ Overall, 3,944 votes were cast with 65 percent (2,577 people) answering ‘yes’ in support compared with 33 percent (1,313 people) who said ‘no’. A further 54 people said they did not know. Hundreds of comments were left below the accompanying article , as readers debated the Government’s decision to use vessels for accommodation. Protesters met the barge when it arrived in Portland Port (Image: PA) Many readers were in support of the barge, with username mabel writing: ‘It’s become a necessity. For the UK does not have the housing, nor the money to support the number of people coming here.’ While other readers thought barges were preferable to the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels. Username ollysmyth said: ‘I’d rather they were on a barge than in hotels.’ And username MaggieT said: ‘I’m more than fine with the barges. Great idea.’ Dorset Council is receiving £1.7million during the 18 months the barge is in Portland. Conservative Councillor Laura Beddow says the authority has ‘serious concerns’ about its location.  She explained at a news conference earlier this month: ‘Do I think it is the right location? Probably not, I would have preferred it not to be in Portland. We have always had concerns about the impact on services. However, we have fought really really hard to get the funding agreements in place that we think we need to mitigate that. So going forward I think we are in a good place.’ Some readers also shared concerns about its location, with username Markukk commenting that it is ‘not fair on the residents’. Yet username kennyk1000 remarked: ‘Why should they not be housed there – all the country has to accept this pressure.’ More than 12,000 asylum seekers have already crossed The Channel this year (Image: EXPRESS.CO.UK) Local campaign groups have penned an open letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman against the use of the vessel which reads: ‘For many people seeking asylum arriving in the UK, the sea represents a site of significant trauma as they have been forced to cross it on one or more occasions.  ‘Housing people on a sea barge – which we argue is equal to a floating prison – is morally indefensible, and threatens to re-traumatise a group of already vulnerable people.’ Chief executive of the Refugee Council Enver Solomon previously slammed the barge, and said: ‘A floating barge does not provide what they need nor the respect, dignity and support they deserve.’ While username Mr AlwaysRight said: ‘The Government should concentrate on clearing the backlog of asylum applications.’