Residents of Portland have hit out at the Government with the Bibby Stockholm barge is still causing concern in Dorset six months on.
Asylum seekers are being moved onto the barge in an attempt to ease pressure on the costs of housing migrants in hotels across the country.
However, Portland locals are outraged at the 'special services' that are provided by Dorset council to the migrants, including free exclusive bus services and free hiking gear.
Speaking to GB News, local Kelvin Thomson slammed the "segregation" caused by the bus service and the continued "isolation" of the migrants from the community.
Portland residents have hit out at the divide in services for asylum seekers
GB News
Thomson said: "If they travel on the bus with the local community, there could be some sort of integration, because a lot of people are confused as to why they're here.
"Wouldn't this be a great way to integrate? But no, they're separated. And how can the local community move forward if they're always kept in isolation from us?"
The local community have continued their protests against the decision made by Dorset Council, through fears of security and the extortionate costs on the taxpayers to run the Bibby Stockholm.
Portlander Kate Robson criticised the £34.8million cost of the barge and revealed that the breakdown of figures works out "at capacity at about £4500 per month per head".
Asylum seekers have been living on the Bibby Stockholm barge for six months
PA
She said the Portland locals are "just as divided" and "just as passionate" as they were before the barge was implemented.
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Robson told GB News: "If you do a little bit of investigation, you can rent a really plush house in Sandbanks for that money, or an apartment in Chelsea each.
"You may as well just send them on a Caribbean cruise for a month all inclusive, because that's what £4500 a month will get you for your money."
In an investigation by the National Audit Office into the Home Office's asylum policy, it was revealed that the barge is more expensive than hotels, and at the time of commissioning the barge, the Home Office had not yet estimated the costs.
The Portland resident added that she was "shocked" by the lack of estimation of the costs of the barge, and claimed that the Home Office "blatantly lied" to locals.
Portland residents say they 'can't move forward' unless they are integrated with the community
GB News
Robson raged: "They told us that the Bibby Stockholm was to offer value for the taxpayer for housing asylum seekers. And we now know from the National Audit Office document that was released at the end of March that it's not just a little bit more expensive, it's exorbitantly more expensive.
"I mean, it's obscene the cost, the money that is being thrown at this barge."
In a statement, the Home Office said: "We have always been clear that the use of asylum hotels is unacceptable and that's why we acted swiftly to reduce the impact on local communities by moving asylum seekers onto barges and former military sites.
"While the National Audit Office figures include set up costs, it is currently better value for money for the taxpayer to continue with these sites than to use hotels."
