By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

Tensions flared at a community meeting in Portswood as attempts were made to focus discussions on the use of a hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.

 

Anti-asylum seeker protesters gathered outside Highfield Church while a meeting chaired by police and council representatives took place on Thursday, January 8.

Anti-asylum seeker protesters outside the Highfield House Hotel on Thursday (Jan 8). Photo: LDRS

During the 90-minute session, there were repeated calls from pockets of the audience for questions to be focused around Highfield House Hotel.

The nearby hotel in Highfield Lane continues to be used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers.

As the police and communities together (PACT) meeting progressed with around 50 people present, disputes between members of the public broke out, with bouts of shouting and swearing.

Two people were asked to leave the meeting, while one man was removed by police officers.

Earlier in the evening, anti-asylum seeker protesters and counter protesters congregated on opposites sides of the road outside the hotel, mirroring scenes which have been a weekly occurrence for many months.

Some of the protesters, known as Southampton Patriots, many of whom had England and United Kingdom flags, took their demonstration to outside the meeting venue.

Chanting included “lefty scum off our streets” and “save our children”, with some of the group banging drums.

Despite the interruptions in the meeting calling for focus to be placed on the hotel and those staying there, organisers stuck to the pre-arranged agenda typical of a PACT session.

This included an update on the beefed up public spaces protection order for Portswood, which was approved by city councillors in November 2025 and a summary of the latest reported crime figures for the area.

The meeting moved on to providing responses to questions submitted in advance by members of the public and Portswood ward councillors.

The panel addressing residents comprised of local authority officers, Labour council leader Alex Winning, and police officers.

After working through the agenda, which covered subjects such as aggressive begging, shoplifting and a visible police presence in the high street,  there was only limited time remaining for a couple of questions on other matters.

Concerns were expressed about the safety of residents in Avondale Court, which is located next to the hotel.

One question related to what could be done to limit the impact and disturbance on Highfield residents caused by the weekly protests.
The final question came from Ukip leader Nick Tenconi, who asked about what powers authorities in Southampton had to end the current use of Highfield House hotel.

Cllr Winning said representations had been made to the Home Office on this subject.

Throughout the meeting, the sound of the protesters gathered outside the venue, who were shouting various chants, could be heard inside the hall.

There was a large visible uniformed police presence both at the hotel and in the area around the church before, during and after the meeting.

Previously: Police reject concerns Highfield neighbourhood meeting about banning protests