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A Scottish council has denied warnings a disused care home will be converted into a 35-bed HMO for hundreds of migrants. Angus councillors on Tuesday opted to carry out a site inspection prior to reaching their final verdict on the application for the building in Forfar. The proposal attracted fierce opposition, with more than 600 objections lodged with the local authority. But around 160 of these were subsequently redacted by council officials. The authority said they contained claims that were "variously untrue, inaccurate, or likely to provoke unrest, hatred or harm". Lochbank Manor, which stopped operating as a care home in 2024, had become the focus of local fury after Veriton Group submitted its planning application in October last year. Veriton Group has also denied suggestions the building would be used to house migrants or asylum seekers. In a letter published in December, the company insisted its HMO application "does not relate to the housing of asylum seekers or immigrants at Lochbank Manor". The developer indicated it was collaborating with housing associations across England and Scotland that support veterans, survivors of domestic abuse and homeless people. "Nothing is finalised and no group has been selected or considered a front-runner at this early stage of the application process," the company added. An Angus Council spokesman reinforced this position ahead of Tuesday's meeting, saying: "Contrary to some speculation, there is no indication that it will be a home for people seeking asylum." Locals, however, still harbour fears over the plans. Iain MacKay, 78, told the BBC: "This isn't the right area to have a 35 room HMO at all. MIGRANT CRISIS - READ THE LATEST: Migrants' English language tests could soon be run on Duolingo despite major security warning Afghan man becomes first person convicted of endangering migrants during Channel crossing Migrants handed record levels of legal aid to fight their deportation - paid for by YOU "It is beside a park. We don't want lots of strangers coming and going nearby." Meanwhile, Andy Buchan, 29, said: "It would be better to wait to find out what it is actually going to be before making any big decisions that will impact the future." An activist from Forfar Against Racism raged: "Forfar has always been a vibrant and welcoming community until November last year. "Now we can see and hear the racism building in the town. It has become the norm and it is frightening. "The town fell under a dark cloud of division, discrimination and hate against asylum seekers and the LGBTQIA community. "It has created an atmosphere of fear and division within our community." Opposition to the HMO was backed by the Homeland Party, a hard-right group which calls for the deportation of "illegal, unintegrated and unwelcome migrants". David Gardner, a former community councillor and Homeland Party member, set up a Facebook group called Forfar Concerned Residents - Lochbank shortly after the application was submitted. Campaigning against the site, Mr Gardner said an influx of migrants would lead to a spike in crime rates in the local area. "People being aware of the risks, based on what has been happening in similar towns from Dumfries to Elgin, is not misinformation. It is common sense," he said. In response, the council condemned "inaccurate or malicious speculation that has no basis in truth and where it has the potential to harm our communities". A spokesman for the Homeland Party said: "This is a genuine grassroots local campaign against a major proposal in Forfar. "Dave is one man out of more than 650 people who have formally objected, with many more local residents sharing the same concerns. "To present this as though it were simply the conduct of one individual is misleading." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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