DORSET Council has been accused of “deafening silence” and “lies” over its lack of action to fight the asylum barge for Portland.

Public questions to the Thursday evening (13th) council meeting in Dorchester challenge the council’s legal advice and claim it is not too late to take court action, as other councils and individuals have, over asylum seeker accommodation plans elsewhere.

Said a question table from Alex Bailey: “Please detail the legal advice Dorset Council sought and received, and from who, when, and where regarding the agreement between Portland Port and the Home Office? The people of Portland, Weymouth, and Dorset want answers, and your silence has been deafening while your lies have just left a poor taste."

Another public question, from Stephen Coggins is to the point: “Why has Dorset Council not mounted legal action blocking Home Office plans to house asylum seekers on a barge in a highly deprived area with limited single road access and the areas main income is tourism while at least 3 other Councils have succeeded in Court Injunctions with little cost and 100% success.”

Questioner Susan Phoenix asks the council, to still consider a legal challenge : “please would the council consider changing their position and challenging the placement of the Bibby Stockholm in Portland Harbour.? It cannot be too late, and it would restore so much confidence in the local communities of Portland and Weymouth.”

The meeting, which starts at 6.30pm at County Hall, Dorchester is to also hear a motion from Weymouth councillor Tony Ferrari calling on the council to condemn the siting of the 500-place accommodation barge in Portland Harbour.

The Littlemoor and Preston councillor, who has support from other Conservative councillors, also asks for the barge to be removed as soon as possible.

In his motion Cllr Ferrari says: “This council condemns the commercial agreement between the Home Office and Portland Port for the mooring of the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate up to 500 asylum seekers at this location. That the mooring of the barge in Portland Port is an entirely inappropriate location and should be removed at the earliest opportunity. That Dorset Council, while not the decision makers, will work with agencies to mitigate the impact this will have on Dorset.”