Man hit by white van outside hotel at the centre of angry asylum seeker protests

08 August 2023 , 20:39

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The Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli (Image: Getty Images)

A man has been taken to hospital after an incident outside a south Wales hotel which is at the centre of an ongoing row over a plan to house more than 200 asylum seekers.

Police were called to the Stradey Park Hotel in the Furnace area of Llanelli on Tuesday morning following reports that a white van had been in collision with a member of the public.

It's understood that the van was leaving the hotel and the man was at the entrance to the venue where protesters continue to gather in opposition to the controversial plans which were first confirmed by the Home Office back in May. People have been camping outside the location, and their presence has grown further since a bid to block the proposals by Carmarthenshire Council failed at the High Court in London in July.

Paramedics arrived at the scene on Tuesday morning and the man involved in the collision was taken to hospital. No details regarding his injuries have been released. Police have said the collision was captured on CCTV and they have begun an investigation, reported WalesOnline.

A spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "Police were called to a report of an incident which occurred at about 10.55am this morning (August 8) at the entrance to the Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli. A white van and a pedestrian were involved in a collision. The pedestrian was taken to hospital by ambulance. The incident was captured on CCTV and enquiries are ongoing."

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The first of up to 241 asylum seekers were initially due to arrive at the hotel on July 10 but those plans were pushed back, with the Home Office refusing to state when exactly people will begin arriving, only saying last week that it would be "over the coming weeks".

A protestor, who is a member of Save Our Stradey Park And Neighbourhood (Sospan), said the man had been camping outside the hotel and that people had shouted to the van driver to slow down.

They said there was "a big bang" and the victim was "shaken up", reported the BBC, adding: "His face was very pale and he had hurt his arm and leg."

Robert Harries