A MEETING of all Langstone residents is being called on Thursday so people can have their say on the controversial asylum appeals centre planned for the area.

Members of Langstone Action, a committee set up by residents three weeks ago to try to glean more information about the centre, will report their findings at the meeting.

The immigration hearing centre is set to open on December 2, but local leaders and residents opposed to the centre feel their views are being ignored in a "secret" process to get the centre finished.

Although the plans go before Newport council's planning committee on November 20, the Crown is not obliged to act on committee members' opinion.

The centre will handle appeals by asylum seekers against the Crown, but will not be used as a residential facility in any way.

Brian Bolshaw, a member of Langstone Action, said: "We want to bring everyone up to date with what's happening and take recommendations on how to move it forward further. We want to get the majority opinion so we'd like all residents there."

Mr Bolshaw said the main fear was that those attending the centre for a hearing would have nowhere to go while they are waiting - apart from the housing estate.

He added that the action group had met with Newport East MP Alan Howarth, who we reported earlier this week as saying Langstone was "unsuitable for such a use". Mr Howarth said the immigration hearing centre, planned for Columbus House, at Langstone Business Park, would be better situated in Newport city centre.

The MP, who has urged the council to reject the plans, said: "It is not reasonable to expect asylum seekers and others to find their way out to Langstone.

"Nor would adequate facilities for food and shelter be available at the Langstone site for people attending court.

"In any case, this is land which has been designated for business use and ought to be used as such.

"I also share my constituents' concern that this matter has been handled inappropriately and discourteously on behalf of the court service by their managing agents, who sought to avoid consultation and to proceed with entirely undue haste."

The meeting will be held at 7pm at the Hilton Hotel. Assembly Members John Griffiths and William Graham, and Langstone councillor David Atwell, are expected to attend. Mr Graham, AM for South Wales East, has called on the Crown to "provide reassuring answers and not seek to enforce the centre via underhanded procedures and secrecy".