RESIDENTS opposing a planned asylum appeals centre in Newport will have lawyers fighting their case when it comes before planners.

After a public meeting of Langstone residents about the controversial proposal by the Crown to create the appeals centre in their community, campaigners agreed to draft a report for their solicitors.

The immigration hearing centre, with eight courts, is set to open in Columbus House, Langstone Business Park, on December 2.

It would only be used by people making appeals and would be non-residential.

The Crown does not need planning permission for the £3m project, and work has already started on converting the building, which will handle up to 32 cases a day. Newport council's planning committee meets on Wednesday to give its reaction to the scheme.

But the Crown has no obligation to act on them. After the meeting the action group drafted a report which will be passed on to their lawyers.

Brian Bolshaw, a member of Langstone Action, said: "We have been told that the report will be read out at the planning meeting."

Around 200 people attended the meeting at the Hilton Hotel, organised by members of Langstone Action - a committee set up by concerned residents three weeks ago.

Among them was Newport East Labour AM John Griffiths, who made it clear that he was opposed to "the distorted and misleading views held by some correspondence I have received that asylum-seekers are all criminals".

Mr Griffiths said: "What I am opposed to is the centre's inadequate location and transport links and the extremely poor information and consultation."

He said the decision to house the centre in the business park was "bizarre" and added "huge questions should be asked of the consultants involved".

One member of the audience said the prospect of asylum-seekers attending the courts brought ""the threat of beggars appearing on the streets of Newport" - a claim dismissed by Mr Griffiths.

And Leslie Adams, 70, from Chepstow Road, accused the council of "pursuing a hidden agenda" and of lying to the public about planning developments.

William Graham, Conser-vative AM for South Wales East and a councillor for the Allt-Yr-Yn ward, said he had asked many questions about the centre proposals but they had remained unanswered.