​Home Office rebuffed in its plans for a new Dungavel

Campaigners have welcomed a decision to reject the creation of a refugee removal centre near Glasgow Airport.

Councillors on Renfrewshire Council’s planning committee unanimously voted against the proposal for a 51 bed short-stay unit.

The Home Office had earmarked a site near Abbotsinch Road as a replacement for the hated Dungavel Removal Centre in Lanarkshire, which will close in September 2017.

Campaigners said the new centre would make it easier for people to be removed from the country and more than 300 objections were made.

This is a defeat for the UK government and its poisonous rhetoric against refugees and migrants

Planners had recommended the plan go ahead, but councillors rejected this.

Councillor Terry Kelly, convener of the planning board, said: "Members were unanimously of the view that the proposed facility would be contrary to the Adopted Renfrewshire Local Development Plan.

"There was clear concern it would be detrimental to the economic development of the Glasgow Airport Investment Area - one of the key economic drivers for the city region.

"Members agreed that there was no established identifiable functional link between the proposal and Glasgow Airport's operations.

"The proposed facility's location in a commercial and industrial area would also introduce an inappropriate use through the attendant noise, activity and disturbance."

Robina Qureshi of anti-racist charity Positive Action in Housing said: “Really pleased that Renfrewshire Council has said a unanimous no to the proposed detention camp for refugees including children and families at Abbotsinch near to Glasgow Airport.

“This is a defeat for the UK government and its poisonous rhetoric against refugees and migrants. A brilliant campaign led by Stop Detention Scotland and thank you to the 300 or so who objected!”