Almost 100 jobs could be lost at a Carmarthenshire hotel which will house asylum seekers, it has been revealed.

Staff working at Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli have been told about redundancies which are set to happen on July 10 – the day the first asylum seekers are due to arrive at the building.

The 50 full-time and 45 part-time staff were informed during a meeting on Tuesday morning, 27 June, after an email was sent via management at the hotel, who then informed their colleagues.

The meeting, which lasted about half an hour, did not include any representatives on behalf of the hotel's owners, Sterling Woodrow.

The building is due to house a total of 241 asylum seekers, which has caused concern in the community over the potential strain on public services.

Carmarthenshire has previously successfully welcomed asylum seekers and refugees, in smaller groups across the region, it has been argued.

There has also been a number of bookings for the venue, such as weddings, which have had to be cancelled.

Cllr Darren Price, leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, has called on Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, to intervene.

“The Conservative UK Government’s behaviour in this matter has been scandalous,” said the Plaid Cymru councillor.

“They’ve ignored local concerns and turned a deaf ear to lobbying by my council, the police and local politicians at all levels.

"They obviously care nothing for the 100 people who’ll lose their jobs, or for the wider economic harm this will cause to Llanelli.

“The situation has been caused by the Home Office dragging its feet in processing the cases of asylum seekers fleeing war and conflict, resulting in a current backlog of 170,000 according to the Refugee Council.

“Carmarthenshire Council has consistently argued that there are alternative and better ways of supporting these people than taking over a hotel in full.

"A dispersed model would see asylum seekers placed in smaller groups across the region, which would allow hotels to operate as normal, for weddings and other celebrations to continue, and for current hotel staff to be retained in full.

“The Tory government’s attitude in this matter proves that despite unanimous local opposition, despite 24 years of devolution, when the chips are down the UK government can still ride roughshod over Wales.”

On Sunday, 25 June, around 100 protesters had marched in opposition to the plans, which Carmarthenshire council previously said it was "firmly against".

Llanelli MP, Dame Nia Griffith, said: “This is outrageous news and such a shoddy way to treat the hotel’s existing staff who have been kept in the dark all the way through this situation by the hotel’s owners.

"It is a disgraceful and degrading way to treat the workers. The hotel owners, Clearsprings and Tory ministers in the Home Office should hang their heads in shame.

“I have already been in touch with the staff there to offer my full support to them in this difficult time and I am pleased that Carmarthenshire County Council have confirmed to me that they will be able and willing to assist too.”

Carmarthenshire County Council said that it is ‘shocking’ news that staff at Stradey Park Hotel are at risk of redundancy, and will have measures in place to support staff during this uncertain period.

It says council has Communities for Work and Workways+ projects which will help individuals with job seeking advice and guidance, training and updating of CVs.

The employability team are also exploring the potential of a jobs fair for the staff, and the council’s HWB advisors will be on hand to advise those who require financial support.

The hotel's owners, Stirling Woodrow, have been contacted for comment.