THE Home Office claims that public concern about the expansion of Campsfield House immigration removal centre is not widespread.

This is despite letters signed by heads of Oxford Colleges, academics, and representatives of churches and community groups against this expansion and an unusual local political consensus (Tory, LibDem, Labour, Green and National Health Action) that this is a really bad plan.

How much more widespread do the concerns need to be?

Home Office figures make clear that the number of people entering immigration detention fell by three per cent in the year to September 2014 and at the same time the number of people actually being deported on leaving detention fell to 55 per cent – which does beg the question of why the other 45 per cent were being held.

The case for a huge expansion in the detention estate is not made, and the evidence for the ‘very special circumstances’ required for building on the Oxfordshire Green Belt is lacking.

There are concerns about the capacity of this expansion to provide adequate facilities for the extra 290 detainees planned: these must include health facilities, recreation and some sort of occupation for men who sometimes spend many months there.

I understand that the injustice and inhumanity of indefinite detention are not a concern of the planning committee, but at the very least they should consider the potential for unrest among such large numbers of detainees and its impact on the wider community.

Dr Helen Salisbury, National Health Action Party candidate, Oxford West and Abingdon

Today’s letters