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Date submitted

3 August 2026

Submitted by

Interested party

I am writing to formally object to the proposed expansion of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) in Gosport. My primary concern is the impact this expansion will have on public resources, particularly healthcare, at a time when local residents are already struggling to access basic NHS services. Healthcare at Haslar IRC is fully funded by NHS England using public money. This includes access to doctors, nurses, mental health services, dental care, and substance misuse treatment. Detainees do not pay for this care, as it is funded by taxpayers. The proposed increase in bed capacity will allow several hundred more non-residents to be accommodated at Haslar. This means hundreds more people will receive publicly funded accommodation, food and comprehensive healthcare services, while many local taxpayers are unable to access the very services they pay for. Residents in Gosport and across Hampshire often struggle to get a GP appointment, cannot find an NHS dentist accepting new patients, and face lengthy waits for treatment despite contributing to the NHS through their taxes. As a local taxpayer, I object to my taxes being used to expand this facility. I would rather see public money invested in housing local people, improving access to GP and NHS dental services, increasing NHS capacity, and ensuring local residents can receive the healthcare they need when they need it. In my view, those who have contributed to the system through their taxes should not face such difficulty accessing essential public services. In addition to healthcare costs, taxpayers also fund accommodation, food, security, utilities and the day-to-day running of the facility. At a time when public finances are under pressure and many local services are stretched, I do not believe expanding Haslar IRC represents the best use of public money. I therefore object to the proposal and urge the Government to prioritise the needs of local residents before increasing the capacity of the immigration removal centre. Before any expansion is approved, the Government should publish the full projected costs of the expansion, including the impact on healthcare provision and other publicly funded services, so that taxpayers can understand how their money is being spent. For these reasons, I strongly urge the decision-makers to reject the proposed expansion of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre.