Holding Authorities to Account:
Bell Hotel Epping
We have initiated a comprehensive legal and investigatory response surrounding the events at the Bell Hotel, Epping, where asylum accommodation and coordinated protest logistics have raised serious public and institutional concerns.
Summary of Concerns
- Potential unlawful change of use of the Bell Hotel from transient hotel (C1 classification) to asylum accommodation, without planning permission.
- Alleged police facilitation of activist groups (including Stand Up to Racism and Antifa) who arrived at Epping Station and were escorted by police—some via riot vans—to the protest site.
- Targeted public disorder and damage followed, with apparent investigative bias toward local protesters while transported agitators were shielded or omitted from scrutiny.
Formal Actions Taken
Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests Submitted:
- ✅ Essex Police – transport coordination, deployment orders, and risk assessments
- ✅ Metropolitan Police – cross-force involvement and escort authorisations
- ✅ Epping Forest District Council – planning compliance, asylum accommodation oversight, and protest liaison
- ✅ Council Planning Enforcement Team – query on unlawful material change of use of the Bell Hotel without C1 reclassification
Legal Escalation Prepared:
- A formal misfeasance in public office complaint drafted for submission to the IOPC and Essex Police Professional Standards
- Evidence bundle assembled: video footage, timeline, operational mapping, and harm analysis
Why This Matters
This is not simply a dispute over policy. It is a test of procedural integrity, planning law compliance, and operational impartiality by public bodies entrusted with safety, transparency, and governance.
When institutions shield agitators, sidestep accountability, or facilitate politically charged disruptions without scrutiny, they must be legally and publicly held to account.
We are committed to documenting every step, exposing inconsistencies, and challenging regulatory silence. If you witnessed events, hold relevant footage, or wish to contribute, we invite you to contact us.
Edinburgh
Hotel Use in Edinburgh for Asylum Accommodation
Both The Learmonth Hotel and Piries Hotel were requisitioned under the Home Office's “hotel maximisation policy” starting in mid-2023. What’s important to note is:
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City of Edinburgh Council formally objected to the use of these premises, citing:
- Inadequate support services.
- Lack of safeguarding protocols.
- No consultation with local authorities or residents.
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The Home Office proceeded regardless, invoking national authority to contract hotels directly via third-party operators
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Councillors raised concerns that they were blindsided, unable to assess the suitability of locations, or even identify which hotels were being used in some cases until after placement occurred.
This echoes wider patterns across Scotland and the UK, where councils have:
- No veto power over Home Office accommodation decisions.
- Limited ability to conduct welfare or safeguarding inspections in privately contracted properties
A full conformed list of hotels will follow shortly together with a JAOC action plan and if you would like to help please drop us an email justanordinarycitizen@proton.me
🗣️ What Starmer Said
During his meeting with Donald Trump in Scotland, Keir Starmer stated:
“We’re very pleased we’re getting on with returning people who have got no right to be here.”
He cited 35,000 returns since Labour took office in July 2024.
📉 What the Data Shows
- Of the 43,309 illegal migrants who arrived during Labour’s first year, only 446 were charged with immigration offences.
- Just 153 people were prosecuted for aiding illegal entry (smuggling) in that same period.
- The forced returns—those deported involuntarily—are estimated to be around 5,074, not 35,000.
🧮 So What’s the 35,000 Figure? It likely includes:
- Voluntary returns (individuals who left on their own, often with government assistance).
- Administrative removals (e.g. overstayers or visa violations).
- Possibly even EU citizens returned under bilateral agreements.
But the number of illegal entrants forcibly deported or jailed is far lower—closer to your estimate of under 5,000.
Asylum seekers
Edinburgh
the truth
If a hotel is transitioning from short-term accommodation (Class C1) to long-term residential use (Class C3) in the UK, there are several legal and regulatory steps that must be followed. This isn’t just a change in clientele—it’s a change in planning classification, building standards, and local policy compliance. Here's a breakdown:
Legal Steps for Hotel-to-Residential Conversion
1. Planning Permission or Permitted Development Rights (PDR)
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Planning Permission is required if structural changes are involved or if the local authority restricts conversions.
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Permitted Development Rights may allow change of use from C1 to C3 without full planning permission—but this depends on:
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Whether the property is in an Article 4 area, which removes PDRs
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Local authority policies, especially in tourism-dependent zones
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Whether the building is listed or in a conservation area
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Action: Consult your Local Planning Authority (LPA) and check the local development plan
2. Building Regulations Compliance
Even if planning permission isn’t required, building regulations still apply:
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Fire safety, insulation, ventilation, accessibility
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Energy efficiency standards (EPC rating)
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Structural integrity and soundproofing for residential use
Action: Hire a qualified architect or surveyor to guide compliance and liaise with building control officers.
3. Local Policy and Housing Needs
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Councils may resist conversions if it affects local tourism or employment.
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In areas with housing shortages, they may support it—but you’ll need to make a strong case
Action: Work with a planning consultant to align your proposal with local housing strategy.
I selected 2 hotels as an example
The key aspect of this situation is Edinburgh council's response to us regarding the freedom of information request, and you can sense the underlying frustration in the way they convey the information. It's more than just a matter of secrecy, but credit should be given to the council for sharing a letter with the government that outlines their concerns, yet no media outlet has taken the initiative to report on this.
Read the full report accompanied by the letter
Follow me on what do they know for updates.
Pirie's hotel 4-8 Coates Gardens, Edinburgh EH12 5LB · 0131 337 1108 Website is now down.
No application for change of usage and last planning was in 2022 with an objection from a local resident on works being done to prepare it for asylum seekers.
Owned by Splendid Hospitality Group Ltd and one member Nadeem Shirazali Boghani is a British businessman and director with a notable footprint in the UK hospitality and restaurant sectors. As of now, he has held 12 company appointments, including active roles in several ventures:
Key Roles and Affiliations
- Splendid Hospitality Group LLP – Active designated member since 2007. This group owns and operates hotels across the UK, including the Piries Hotel in Edinburgh.
- Sojourn Hotels (York) LLP – Active designated member since 2014.
- Splendid Restaurants (Colonel) Ltd – Active director since 2016.
- St. Helen's School Northwood – Vice Chairman since 2014, indicating involvement in educational governance.
Past Ventures and Statuses
- Several dissolved or liquidated companies, including:
- Splendid Restaurants International Ltd (dissolved)
- Jack & Alice Restaurants Ltd (in liquidation)
- KBOX Global Ltd (entered insolvency proceedings)
Addresses Linked to His Roles
- Haydon House, Pinner
- 2 Regal Way, Watford
- 51 Wieland Road, Northwood
His business activity spans hospitality, education, and food service, often through LLP structures and private companies making it very difficult to trace.
Learmonth hotel 18–20 Learmonth Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 1PW,
Phone number is not shown , website been taken down and the only planning application was in 2002.
The Learmonth Hotel in Edinburgh is owned by The Learmonth Property Investment Company Limited, a private limited company incorporated in 1936. Their registered office is at Level 5, 9 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh, EH3 8RY, and their business classification is “Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate”.
This company appears to hold the property as part of a broader investment strategy, rather than operating the hotel directly.
Company directors are under investigation by JAOC
📊 UK Prison Population Comparison:
British Nationals vs Illegal Migrants
🇬🇧 British Nationals
- As of March 2024, there were 76,869 British nationals in prison.
- The total UK population is approximately 67 million.
- Estimated incarceration rate:
approx 0.115%
(Just over 1 in every 1,000 British nationals is in prison.)
🚫 Illegal Migrants
- Between 2020 and 2024, there were an estimated 175,000 unauthorised arrivals.
- In 2024 alone, 36,816 arrived via small boats.
- Around 5,000–6,000 were jailed or forcibly removed in a recent 12-month period.
- Estimated incarceration/removal rate:
approx 13.6%
(This includes immigration detention and deportation—not just prison sentences.)
📉 Side-by-Side Comparison
Group Estimated Custody Rate Notes British Nationals 0.115% Based on prison population only Illegal Migrants 13.6% Includes detention & removal.
Illegal migrants are over 100 times more likely to be detained or removed than British nationals are to be imprisoned.