A COUNCIL has criticised 'unhelpful rumours' that a Weymouth hotel which is being used to house homeless people is accommodating asylum seekers.

The Riviera Hotel has recently opened its doors to rough sleepers in a bid to provide a safe space for up to 10 guests to receive intensive support and a warm place to stay during the colder winter months.

There are 10 rooms currently in use at the iconic hotel by the Safe Sleep Project, which is being run by The Lantern Trust, an independent registered charity which helps vulnerable and marginalised people in the Weymouth and Portland area.

The project is being supported by Dorset Council.

Everyone housed at The Riviera Hotel has their own room and a team of dedicated support workers are based on site throughout the day and into the evening as well as 24-hour security.

Lantern Trust's CEO, Mike Graham, said: "Safe Sleep is about providing a safe bed space with intensive support. We are now in our fourth year and each project has been a success in supporting people off the streets/sofa surfing into accommodation. As soon as our guests arrive we aim to provide intensive support to help our guests have hope for the future and their own front door"

However, rumours that the hotel has been housing asylum seekers have been met with backlash from the council who say that the gossip is untrue and does 'not help the area or the residents who live there'.

Dorset Echo: The hotel is a familiar landmark on Weymouth's coastThe hotel is a familiar landmark on Weymouth's coast

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, portfolio holder for housing at Dorset Council, said: “The council has a good working relationship with the Home Office which is responsible for finding suitable accommodation for asylum seekers.

“The Home Office is not using the The Riviera Hotel and there is no foundation to rumours suggesting otherwise.

“The Riviera Hotel is being used successfully to provide temporary shelter for homeless people during the cold weather months, as part of the Safe Sleep initiative, involving The Lantern charity and with the council’s support.

“This is not linked to any initiative or programme to house people seeking asylum.

“We are grateful to The Riviera Hotel’s help with the Safe Sleep project, and to the neighbours who support this important work.

“Accommodating asylum seekers is a national responsibility, run by the Home Office, and unhelpful rumours do not help the area or the residents who live there.”

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As of June 2021, the council has successfully welcomed 85 Syrian refugees, including 48 children and have pledged to continue resettlement under a new global scheme for all nationalities as part of the UK Resettlement Scheme last year.

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: “The council financially supports the Sleep Safe programme as an important way to keep people safe and off the streets during the cold winter months. The Riviera Hotel is the only hotel being used in the programme which is run by The Lantern Trust.”