A Nottinghamshire council has condemned fake planning signs that were put outside a pub which said it would be turned into an 'immigrant processing hostel'. Ashfield District Council confirmed the 'change of use' signage that appeared in front of the Bluebell pub in Mansfield Road, Skegby, was false.
The authority said no such planning application exists and said the matter had been reported to Nottinghamshire Police. It comes after protests were staged against hotels being used to house asylum seekers, including in Mansfield and Long Eaton.
Councillor David Hennigan, an independent councillor for Sutton Central and New Cross, said the fake signage was a "racist attempt to stir up tensions". He said: “Since these fake notices have gone up councillors have inundated with emails, phone calls and messages from residents.
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"There is no such application and this amounts to a despicable, politically-motivated and racist attempt to stir tensions. Therefore, I have formally written to the Chief Constable and the local policing team asking them to investigate this under incitement to racial hatred legislation."
Cllr Hennigan said that residents have been talking about organising protests after seeing the signs. He added: "I would ask them to remain calm and not react to what in my view is a criminal attempt to divide communities.
"As a local councillor, who has fought racism all my life, this is a really, really appalling incident and I hope whoever has done this can explain themselves and their motivation.” Ashfield District Council executive director of place, Robert Docherty, said: "The council has not received any such application.
"As a council, we cannot understand why anyone would want to do this and a full investigation is now underway. The matter has also been reported to the police."
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