Bell

High school football: City and Southern Section playoff scores

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

First Round

DIVISION I

#1 Venice 38, #16 Bell 0

#8 Franklin 35, #9 Westchester 15

#5 Marquez 17, #12 Granada Hills 12

#13 Van Nuys 36, #4 Wilmington Banning 15

#3 Eagle Rock 62, #14 Taft 37

#11 Dorsey 26, #6 El Camino Real 8

#7 Gardena 30, #10 L.A. Hamilton 26

#2 South Gate 47, #15 Lincoln 21

DIVISION II

#1 Cleveland 24, #16 Legacy 3

#9 North Hollywood 42, #8 Sylmar 35

#5 L.A. University 16, #12 Washington 12

#4 Fairfax 55, #13 Panorama 22

#14 Chatsworth 40, #3 L.A. Roosevelt 12

#10 Arleta 35, #7 Huntington Park 32

#2 San Fernando 33, #15 South East 14

DIVISION III

#1 Santee 40, #16 Locke 8

#8 Maywood CES 34, #9 Fremont 16

#5 Contreras 35, #12 Sun Valley Poly 28

#4 Jefferson 57, #13 Canoga Park 7

#3 L.A. Wilson 42, #14 Rancho Dominguez 14

#11 Chavez 36, #6 Manual Arts 14

#7 Roybal 34, #10 Verdugo Hills 14

#2 Hawkins 34, #15 Los Angeles 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

First Round

DIVISION 2

Murrieta Valley 35, Corona del Mar 14

Rancho Cucamonga 45, Tustin 8

Los Alamitos 35, Yorba Linda 28

San Juan Hills 28, Downey 27

San Clemente 38, Beaumont 21

Vista Murrieta 36, Damien 31

Leuzinger 34, Crean Lutheran 17

Chaparral 63, Chaminade 42

DIVISION 3

Bishop Amat 28, Murrieta Mesa 9

Oxnard Pacifica 42, Oak Hills 21

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 44, Laguna Beach 28

Chino Hills 42, Mira Costa 35

Dana Hills 27, Aquinas 26

Palos Verdes 42, Valencia 34

Edison 31, Huntington Beach 19

Inglewood 40, Capistrano Valley 16

DIVISION 4

Charter Oak 17, Muir 14

San Jacinto 30, Bishop Diego 29

Great Oak 38, Cajon 15

Villa Park 28, Westlake 24

Oaks Christian 16, St. Bonaventure 13

Paraclete 54, Long Beach Wilson 48

Cathedral 40, Western 21

La Habra 41, El Modena 7

DIVISION 5

Redondo Union 21, Torrance 14

St. Paul 38, Etiwanda 19

Bonita 31, Northview 19

Loyola 17, Newbury Park 14

Aliso Niguel 7, Millikan 6

La Serna 7, Lakewood 0

Rio Hondo Prep 50, Thousand Oaks 34

Troy 49, Orange 27

DIVISION 6

Eastvale Roosevelt 33, Crespi 24

Burbank 52, Lancaster 43

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 35, Alta Loma 6

Upland 42, Los Altos 21
Orange Vista 50, El Toro 31

Agoura 35, Summit 7

Ventura 42, Salesian 31
Moorpark 31, Riverside King 28

DIVISION 7

Palm Springs 33, Claremont 7

Hart 52, Mayfair 24

Barstow 34, Serrano 12

La Canada 30, West Covina 14

Apple Valley 21, North Torrance 20

Victor Valley 34, Segerstrom 14

Saugus 22, Schurr 19

Calabasas 31, El Segundo 24

DIVISION 8

Palm Desert 31, Marina 7

Patriot 48, Elsinore 28

Beckman 41, La Mirada 21

Fullerton 38, La Quinta 21

Irvine 24, Temecula Valley 7

Quartz Hill 41, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 0

Brea Olinda 21, Mary Star of the Sea 12

St. Monica 28, St. Genevieve 18

DIVISION 9

Ramona 21, Silverado 14

Cerritos 16, Fillmore 7

Hesperia 27, Moreno Valley 21

Norte Vista 28, Vista del Lago 24

Warren 17, Norwalk 7

Cerritos Valley Christian 29, Chino 6

San Dimas 24, Rowland 22

Riverside Poly 34, Corona Santiago 24

DIVISION 10

Oak Park 17, Village Christian 15

Tahquitz 39, Heritage Christian 12

Brentwood 13, Portola 3

Santa Monica 42, Pasadena 16

Garden Grove Pacifica 35, El Rancho 14

Liberty 42, West Torrance 35

St. Margaret’s 16, Redlands East Valley 15

Hillcrest 41, Monrovia 14

DIVISION 11

El Monte 18, St. Anthony 13

Western Christian 27, Bell Gardens 20

Baldwin Park 42, Maranatha 28

Shadow Hills 37, Jurupa Hills 0

Gahr 21, Chaffey 16

Valley View 24, Dominguez 3

Palmdale 39, Diamond Bar 20

South Pasadena 42, San Marcos 17

DIVISION 12

Yucca Valley 43, Costa Mesa 17

Grace 28, Rialto 27

Perris 51, Citrus Hill 22

Coachella Valley 38, Banning 35

Bellflower 14, Nogales 7

Colton 73, Ganesha 53

Santa Paula 27, Ocean View 7

Arroyo Valley 26, Desert Christian Academy 24

DIVISION 13

Saddleback 21, Pacific 17

Santa Rosa Academy 35, Heritage 21

Woodbridge 28, Desert Hot Springs 13

Buena 42, Nordhoff 40

La Puente 26, Kaiser 19

Linfield Christian 47, Hacienda Heights Wilson 20

Montebello 19, Rancho Alamitos 17

DIVISION 14

South El Monte 46, Channel Islands 7

Indian Springs 27, Vasquez 20

Ontario 21, Bolsa Grande 0

Miller 39, San Jacinto Valley 13

Alhambra 25, Bassett 0

Trinity Classical Academy 47, Gabrielino 35

Pioneer 42, Godinez 21

8-MAN

CITY SECTION

Quarterfinals

#1 Sherman Oaks CES 66, #8 USC Hybrid 0

#4 East Valley 28, #5 Valley Oaks CES 22

#2 Animo Robinson 66, #7 New Designs University Park 21

SOUTHERN SECTION

First Round

DIVISION 1

Avalon 45, Thacher 14

DIVISION 2

Cal Lutheran 52, Maricopa 22

Desert Christian 34, Malibu 7

Hesperia Christian 26, Academy of Career and Exploration 13

Lancaster Baptist 57, Downey Calvary Chapel 14

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High school flag football: Monday and Tuesday scores

MONDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Bell 24, South East 0

Birmingham 46, Chatsworth 0

Diego 12, TEACH Tech 7

Dorsey 45, Dymally 0

Dorsey 19, Washington 6

Eagle Rock 60, Roybal 0

El Camino Real 18, Taft 0

Fremont 30, Hawkins 8

GALA 7, Fremont 0

GALA 13, Hawkins 6

Garfield 18, Bell 8

Jefferson 40, West Adams 0

Jefferson d. Stella, forfeit

L.A. Marshall 47, Bernstein 21

Lincoln 20, Roybal 0

Panorama 39, Chavez 0

Panorama 28, Chavez 0

San Pedro 13, Narbonne 6

San Pedro 19, King/Drew 0

Santee 10, Manual Arts 0

Santee 29, Los Angeles 0

South East 18, South Gate 6

West Adams d. Stella, forfeit

Wilmington Banning 12, Carson 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alemany 26, Village Christian 12

Anaheim 26, Estancia 0

Anaheim Canyon 19, Crean Lutheran 12

Antelope Valley 26, Knight 0

Beckman 34, Aliso Niguel 32

Bellflower 20, Fairmont Prep 6

Bishop Amat 26, Ontario Christian 0

Brentwood 41, Immaculate Heart 0

California 25, Santa Fe 12

Canyon Springs 32, San Gorgonio 6

Channel Islands 38, Fillmore 0

Chaparral 8, Murrieta Mesa 0

Chino 12, Don Lugo 0

Chino Hills 27, St. Lucy’s 12

Compton Early College 32, Compton Centennial 0

Corona del Mar 26, El Modena 12

Corona Santiago 24, Eastvale Roosevelt 22

Covina 13, Hacienda Heights Wilson 13

Dominguez 24, La Mirada 14

Eastside 27, Littlerock 0

Edison 21, Los Alamitos 6

Etiwanda 13, Rancho Cucamonga 0

Fullerton 43, Tustin 7

Gabrielino 40, Arroyo 18

Great Oak 13, Temecula Valley 6

Hart 14, Saugus 0

Hemet 46, Riverside North 0

Highland 6, Quartz Hill 0

Huntington Beach 40, Fountain Valley 12

Indio 18, Palm Springs 7

Keppel 20, Bell Gardens 6

Lancaster 45, Palmdale 0

La Serna 24, Whittier 0

La Palma Kennedy 19, Laguna Hills 13

Loma Linda Academy 24, La Sierra 19

Los Amigos 25, Magnolia 0

Millikan 48, Long Beach Cabrillo 0

Newport Harbor 45, Marina 6

Norco 32, Corona 14

Norte Vista 14, Ramona 8

Northwood 33, Rosary Academy 12

Ontario 33, Montclair 19

Orange 54, Pomona 0

Palos Verdes 46, Peninsula 6

Portola 33, Irvine University 0

Redlands Adventist Academy 20, Patriot 7

Riverside King 25, Corona Centennial 19

Rowland 21, Northview 12

Saddleback 46, Western 8

San Dimas 38, Colony 6

San Marino 20, La Canada 19

Santa Ana Valley 13, Bolsa Grande 12

Santa Paula 41, Hueneme 0

Schurr 32, Montebello 0

Segerstrom 13, Westminster 7

South El Monte 20, El Monte 0

South Hills 7, Alta Loma 0

Tesoro 27, Capistrano Valley 0

Upland 53, Los Osos 25

Valencia 13, Golden Valley 6

Vasquez 13, Castaic 6

Warren 46, Norwalk 0

West Covina 30, Charter Oak 6

Western Christian 18, Linfield Christian 12

Woodbridge 33, Sage Hill 7

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

SOUTHERN SECTION

Ayala 18, Glendora 0

Burbank Burroughs 13, Paramount 6

Cajon 30, Beaumont 14

Camarillo 38, Royal 7

Canyon Springs 32, Lakeside 6

Citrus Valley 27, Yucaipa 0

El Modena , El Dorado

El Toro 18, Mission Viejo 12

Eitwanda 19, Upland 18

Indio 18, Palm Desert 14

Inglewood 38, Beverly Hills 0

JSerra 25, Mater Dei 0

Lakewood St. Joseph 26, St. Mary’s Academy 6

Lawndale 32, Leuzinger 13

Los Osos 34, St. Lucy’s 12

Newbury Park 39, Thousand Oaks 20

Nogales 14, Rowland 0

Norte Vista 14, Loma Linda Academy 13

Nuview 13, California Military Institute 6

Ontario 21, Chaffey 7

Orange Lutheran 28, Santa Margarita 2

Oxnard 38, Buena 0

Patriot 52, La Sierra 0

Ramona 20, Redlands Adventist Academy 6

Rancho Cucamonga 25, Chino Hills 6

Redlands East Valley 33, Redlands 0

Redondo Union 20, Mira Costa 0

Riverside North 19, Riverside Poly 6

San Clemente 38, Tesoro 25

San Marcos 40, Oxnard Pacifica 0

Santa Fe 21, Orange 6

Santa Monica 33, Culver City 0

SEED: L.A. 6, Providence 0

Segerstrom 19, La Palma Kennedy 12

South Torrance 25, North Torrance 15

Temecula Prep 18, San Jacinto Valley Academy 7

Torrance 40, West Torrance 6

Trabuco Hills 25, San Juan Hills 13

Workman 19, La Puente 6

INTERSECTIONAL

Chaminade 26, El Camino Real 7

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Lauren Bell: England seamer on her first World Cup and what makes her tick as a bowler

Bell’s main strength when she first emerged in international cricket was her ability to swing the ball extravagantly into the right-handed batter, but she spent most of 2024 remodelling her action to add more strings to her bow.

Now swinging the ball both ways and with canny variations in pace, Bell is England’s strike powerplay bowler and her confidence when bowling in that phase – often seen as one of the most difficult – shows the belief and strength in her mental approach to the game.

“You’re obviously bowling at the best batters, but I look at it the other way in that I’m the new-ball bowler, I get to swing the ball, so you know it’s a huge chance for wickets,” said Bell.

“In my head, it’s the best time to bowl. My mindset is that this is an opportunity for me to set up a game.

“I love opening the bowling, I love that it presents me with an opportunity for wickets rather than fearing that they might see it as an easy time to score boundaries.”

Head coach Charlotte Edwards left experienced seamer Kate Cross out of England’s squad, meaning extra responsibility has shifted to Bell’s shoulders in the pace attack with Em Arlott and Lauren Filer as the other frontline seamers, and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt playing as an all-rounder.

The conditions in Guwahati, where England will play their opener against South Africa, have been extremely humid and will be challenging, as all teams experienced during last year’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

For Bell, who could be opening the bowling with spinners and therefore having little time for rest, this has been a consideration.

“We’ve done so much work on that behind the scenes that nobody would’ve seen,” she said.

“During The Hundred we did all these running sessions, top-up sessions after games and that’s the bit nobody will see.

“Especially for me as a seamer, I want to make sure that I’m bowling as fast as I can in the last over of the tournament as I am in the first.”

It may be Bell’s first World Cup, but she could be one of England’s most important players in it.

From the boredom in quarantine to the first ball in Guwahati, it has been a remarkable rise.

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High school flag football: Wednesday and Thursday scores

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Bell 58, Bernstein 6

Cleveland 26, San Fernando 0

Eagle Rock 35, Sylmar 8

Fremont 20, Santee 13

Jefferson 24, Bell 12

Jefferson 32, Bernstein 7

LA Marshall 27, Verdugo Hills 13

LA Wilson 18, Hawkins 0

LA Wilson 42, Manual Arts 0

Narbonne 61, Fremont 6

Narbonne 50, Santee 0

North Hollywood 13, LA Hamilton 0

Panorama 64, Monroe 0

Roosevelt 25, Crenshaw 8

Roosevelt 21, Sotomayor 0

San Fernando 25, Arleta 0

San Pedro 25, Marshall 6

San Pedro 26, Verdugo Hills 7

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alemany 20, La Palma Kennedy 18

Aliso Niguel 33, Sunny Hills 7

Anaheim Canyon 57, La Mirada 0

Azusa 20, Pomona 0

Banning 31, Indian Springs 6

Beaumont 45, Redlands 6

Beckman 44, Sunny Hills 13

Bishop Amat 12, La Serna 6

Bonita 26, Northview 2

Bolsa Grande 40, Saddleback 18

Burbank Burroughs 19, Ramona Convent 0

California 56, Baldwin Park 7

Cajon 20, Burbank Burroughs 6

Camarillo 53, Thousand Oaks 6

Castaic 12, Saugus 6

Chaffey 33, Colony 6

Compton 18, Compton Early College 0

Corona Santiago 20, Great Oak 0

Costa Mesa 37, Los Amigos 0

Crean Lutheran 38, Paramount 12

Cypress 27, Lakewood 6

Desert Hot Springs 34, Rancho Mirage 6

Downey 34, La Serna 0

Duarte 10, Workman 6

Eastvale Roosevelt 24, Rancho Cucamonga 18

Edison 52, Anaheim 2

El Monte 24, Arroyo 0

Elsinore 33, West Valley 7

El Toro 33, Corona Centennial 6

Etiwanda 21, Corona Santiago 6

Fullerton 14, Placentia Valencia 8

Garden Grove 25, Westminster La Quinta 0

Glendora 7, Hacienda Heights Wilson 0

Hart 18, Saugus 0

Highland 34, Knight 6

Immaculate Heart 7, Village Christian 0

JSerra 26, Warren 12

Jurupa Hills 39, Fontana 6

Kaiser 32, Colton 0

Laguna Hills 25, Westminster 19

La Habra 26, El Dorado 6

Lancaster 20, Eastside 6

La Palma Kennedy 28, Tustin 6

Linfield Christian 52, Claremont 13

Long Beach Poly 28, Long Beach Jordan 0

Long Beach Wilson 25, Long Beach Cabrillo 8

Montclair 12, Rowland 6

Montebello 12, South El Monte 0

Newbury Park 32, Simi Valley 7

Newport Harbor 19, Huntington Beach 13

Norco 14, Murrieta Valley 7

Norwalk 18, Sacred Heart of Jesus 0

Ontario Christian 25, Anaheim 19

Orange 32, Garden Grove Santiago 6

Orange Lutheran 40, Fullerton 0

Palos Verdes 40, Bishop Montgomery 0

Placentia Valencia 25, Segerstrom 13

Portola 27, Rosary Academy 12

Quartz Hill 19, Palmdale 0

Rancho Alamitos 21, Ocean View 6

Redlands East Valley 52, Citrus Valley 6

Riverside Poly 28, Arlington 0

Rosemead 6, Gabrielino 0

San Gorgonio 61, Rim of the World 0

San Jacinto Valley Academy 18, Nuview Bridge 0

San Juan Hills 7, El Modena 0

San Marcos 47, Buena 0

San Marino 52, Alhambra 12

Santa Ana Foothill 32, Godinez 6

Santa Fe 13, Bell Gardens 6

Sonora 12, Garden Grove 6

South Hills 13, Los Osos 6

St. Bernard 12, Culver City 0

St. Lucy’s 55, Edgewood 0

St. Paul 26, Buena Park 20

Summit 25, Rialto 0

Tahquitz 19, San Jacinto 0

Temecula Prep 35, California Military Institute 6

Tesoro 46, Corona 14

Upland 19, Bishop Amat 14

Vasquez 18, Castaic 12

Villa Park 46, Katella 0

Vista del Lago 36, Lakeside 0

Warren 20, Schurr 7

Western Christian 25, Upland 20

West Ranch 21, Hart 6

Woodbridge 44, Laguna Beach 8

INTERSECTIONAL

Bishop Alemany 20, Granada Hills Kennedy 18

Eagle Rock 53, Keppel 0

Sylmar 32, Keppel 0

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

Eagle Rock 28, Bell 0

Elizabeth 19, WISH Academy 14

Sherman Oaks CES 40, AMIT 0

Sun Valley Magnet 60, Valor Academy 0

SOUTHERN SECTION

Anaheim Canyon 28, Aliso Niguel 13

Antelope Valley 19, Quartz Hill 6

Brentwood 38, Shalhevet 0

Chino 12, Vista del Lago 0

Culver City 20, Beverly Hills 13

Dos Pueblos 15, San Marcos 14

Foothill 21, Rosary Academy 6

Godinez 19, Westminster La Quinta 0

Hacienda Heights Wilson 26, La Canada 12

Highland 20, Lancaster 18

Inglewood 9, Leuzinger 6

Knight 47, Littlerock 0

Lakewood St. Joseph 32, Corona del Mar 6

Lawndale 50, Hawthorne 12

Long Beach Wilson 14, Santa Ana 13

Newbury Park 40, Oaks Christian 0

Orange Lutheran 53, Northwood 0

Oxnard 32, Oxnard Pacifica 6

Palmdale 6, Eastside 0

Santa Paula 39, Del Sol 0

Saugus 31, Fillmore 6

Torrance 27, South Torrance 0

Ventura 41, Buena 0

West Ranch 27, Canyon Country Canyon 6

INTERSECTIONAL

Ayala 20, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge 6

Ayala 18, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge 0

Merced 24, Bellflower 12

Wilmington Banning 32, Gahr 19

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Gogglebox’s Georgia Bell issues sad family announcement nine months after welcoming baby

Gogglebox fan favourite Georgia Bell has had fans sending their support after she shared an emotional announcement online

Gogglebox
Gogglebox’s Georgia Bell issues sad family announcement nine months after welcoming baby(Image: Channel 4)

A cherished Gogglebox favourite has received overwhelming support from devoted viewers following her heartfelt family revelation.

Georgia Bell initially appeared on the Channel 4 programme in 2018 alongside best mate Abbie Lynn. It’s safe to say the pair quickly won over audiences with their infectious charm.

Throughout the years, Georgia and Abbie – who reside in Durham – have left viewers in hysterics with their brilliant quips and amusing commentary on television’s finest moments.

Beyond the programme, hairdresser Georgia is a devoted mother to two boys, Hugh – who arrived in July 2022 – and Ralphie – who was born in November 2024 – with partner Josh Newby, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Georgia and Abbie Lynn
Georgia and Abbie have been keep audiences in stitches for years with their hilarious quips

Recently, Georgia expressed her melancholy in a touching family revelation. Posting to her Instagram account, the Channel 4 personality shared multiple photographs of baby Ralphie.

In her message, she disclosed to followers: “Maternity leave comes to an end tomorrow. An absolute rollercoaster it’s been, transitioning to a family of 5 welcoming our little Ralphie into the world.

Content cannot be displayed without consent

“I feel like l’ve learnt so much more to motherhood this time round and I couldn’t feel any luckier to have our perfect little family.

“There’s been so many highs, absolute chaos, laughs, tears, tantrums and most importantly unconditional love.”

Delivering a relationship update, Georgia continued: “Even having more time with Hugh has been so special we have two happy and healthy boys and that’s all I could ever wish for. Onto the next chapter.”

Georgia Bell, who stars on Channel 4 Gogglebox with pal Abbie, has announced she is stepping away from hairdressing.
Georgia Bell, who stars on Channel 4 Gogglebox with pal Abbie, has announced she is stepping away from hairdressing.

Supporters quickly filled the comments section with messages of encouragement for Georgia. One fan penned: “It will be difficult you got this you have a beautiful family love watching your stories.xx.”

Another chimed in: “All the best in your new chapter, it will be worth it as you have an evening of family time together, with new conversations and new routines. You will be fine.”

Her Gogglebox colleague Abbie also expressed her admiration, stating: “Extremely proud of you Ge! You are the bestest mama to the most beautiful boys!”.

Gogglebox series 26 is scheduled to begin on Friday, September 5th, 2025, on Channel 4.

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Epping council wins bid to stop Bell Hotel housing asylum seekers

Dominic Casciani

BBC News, Home and Legal Correspondent@BBCDomC
Lewis Adams

BBC News, Essex

PA Media A group of police officers in fluorescent tabards speaking into talkback devices and holding riot helmets - there is a large police van in the background at the entrance to a building with a Bell Hotel sign PA Media

The Bell Hotel has been at the centre of intense protests, and counter-protests over the summer

Asylum seekers are due to be removed from an Essex hotel after a council was granted a temporary High Court injunction blocking them from being housed there.

The injunction was sought by Epping Forest District Council to stop migrants being placed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is owned by Somani Hotels Limited.

Thousands of people have protested near the hotel in recent weeks after an asylum seeker living there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town.

Mr Justice Eyre made his judgement after refusing an 11th-hour effort from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to get the council’s case dismissed.

Asylum seekers must be moved out of the hotel by 16:00 BST on 12 September, the judge ruled.

All 80 rooms at the hotel are seemingly occupied and, as of last month, it was home to about 140 men.

The Home Office had warned the decision would “substantially impact” its ability to house asylum seekers in hotels across the UK.

Footage from 17 July showed projectiles being thrown towards police officers

Protests staged outside The Bell Hotel have been attended by both people against its use for asylum seekers and those in support of migrant rights.

But Conservative council leader Chris Whitbread said the repeated demonstrations were escalating tensions in the area and risked causing “irreparable harm”.

Reacting to the court ruling, he added: “The last few weeks have placed an intolerable strain on our community but today we have some great news.

“We have seen the protests that started off quite violently become peaceful protests, run by the people of Epping Forest.

“What I call upon the residents tonight is if they decide to go outside The Bell Hotel, don’t protest, don’t over-celebrate. This is the beginning. It is not the end.”

A small crowd had gathered outside the hotel on Tuesday evening.

PA Media Chris Whitbread, wearing a blue suit, white shirt, and blue and white spotted tie, outside the the Royal Courts of Justice, talking into microphones, with his leg hand raised. He has short grey hair. Another man is behind him, and an archway is behind him. PA Media

Chris Whitbread said the court victory showed “the government cannot ignore planning rules, just like no-one else can ignore planning rules”

Sixteen people have been charged with offences relating to disturbances during several protests, which Essex Police said became violent on occasion.

Representing the council, Philip Coppel KC agreed some protests “have unfortunately been attended by violence and disorder”.

He said Somani Hotels “did not advise or notify the local planning authority” to seek its views on the use of the site which he argued was not a hotel in the usual sense any more.

He told the court it was “no more a hotel than a borstal [was] to a young offender”.

Lawyers for the hotel and home secretary confirmed in court they wished to appeal against the injunction before a full hearing was listed in the autumn.

It followed a failed last-minute attempt by the Home Office to get the case dismissed.

Edward Brown KC, for the government, said any injunction could lead to other councils making similar applications.

“That would aggravate the pressures on the asylum estate,” he added.

‘Sidestepped scrutiny’

The council’s win comes three years after a string of judgments in similar cases in which judges refused to intevene.

However, Epping Forest told the court last Friday that its case was different because use of the hotel had become a public safety risk, as well as a breach of planning law.

In his judgement Mr Justice Eyre said: “Although the defendant’s [Somani Hotels Limited] actions were not flagrant or surreptitious they were deliberate.

“The defendant acted in good faith but chose to take its stand on the position that there was no material change of use.

“The defendant did so in the knowledge the claimant, as local planning authority, took a different view and believed that permission was necessary.

“It thereby sidestepped the public scrutiny and explanation which would otherwise have taken place if an application for planning permission or for a certificate of lawful use had been made.”

A crowd of protesters holding signs stand on the pavement outside a hotel as cars pass them on the road in front of them.

A small crowd gathered outside The Bell Hotel in the evening following the High Court judgement

Imram Hussain, from the Refugee Council, said: “We think asylum seekers should not be in hotels – there are cheaper, better ways of supporting people and we think the government should end the use of hotels as fast as it can.”

He said such migrants should be in “dispersal accommodation around the country”, as it was more cost-effective and it wanted the government to “work with local authorities to go back to that kind of system and not use hotels”.

The Bell Hotel, a white building, is on the left with an entrance to the right which says The Bell Hotel, Best Western. A tree is in front of the two-storey building with three traffic cones outside.

Epping Forest District Council applied for the injunction on 12 August

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the ruling and said: “This community stood up bravely, despite being slandered as far right, and have won.”

His deputy leader, Richard Tice, said his party would look at pursuing similar cases for hotels within the 10 council areas it controls, which included both North and West Northamptonshire councils, Doncaster, and Kent and Staffordshire county councils.

Angela Eagle, Border Security Minister, said: “This government inherited a broken asylum system; at the peak there were over 400 hotels open.

“We will continue working with local authorities and communities to address legitimate concerns. Our work continues to close all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.

“We will carefully consider this judgment.”

Protests began outside The Bell after 41-year-old Hadush Kebatu, from Ethiopia, was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity.

He denied the offences and remained in custody ahead of a two-day trial, due to begin next Tuesday.

A second man, living at the same hotel, Mohammed Sharwarq, 32, a Syrian national, has been charged with two counts of common assault and four of assault by beating – concerning four complainants.

Following a hearing before magistrates in Chelmsford, he was remanded into custody.

The BBC understands the alleged offences took place within The Bell Hotel.



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