A local council has voiced its opposition to plans that would see asylum seekers housed in a seaside town, after being briefed on the proposal but instructed not to speak about it. Councillors said they were left frustrated by the confidentiality restrictions, which prevented them from consulting residents or raising concerns in public.
The authority confirmed it had been informed of the Home Office's intentions, but was not permitted to disclose details of the site or the number of people involved. Opposition members argued that the lack of transparency undermined local democracy, especially in a coastal community with limited infrastructure and seasonal economic pressures.
Elevation and isolation: a postcode perspective
| District | Post town | Region | Avg elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA9 | Alston | North West | 350m |
| NP23 | Ebbw Vale | Wales | 337m |
| NP22 | Tredegar | Wales | 320m |
| SK17 | Buxton | East Midlands | 320m |
| AB36 | Strathdon | Scotland | 318m |
| BD13 | Bradford | Yorkshire and The Humber | 290m |
| AB37 | Ballindalloch | Scotland | 276m |
| OL13 | Bacup | North West | 275m |
| PH23 | Carrbridge | Scotland | 267m |
| AB35 | Ballater | Scotland | 257m |
While the seaside town at the centre of this row grapples with the practicalities of asylum accommodation, Postcodes UK data reveals the extreme physical environments that can characterise locations across the country. The highest postcode district in England, CA9, which covers Alston, sits at an average elevation of 350 metres above sea level, with its highest point reaching 521 metres. These figures underscore the varied and often challenging terrain where housing decisions may be taken, far from the coastal setting of the current dispute.
Although CA9 is not directly involved in the asylum seeker plans, its elevation profile illustrates how remote and exposed some postcode districts can be. At 350 metres on average, the area experiences harsher weather, reduced accessibility, and a thinner spread of services compared to lowland or seaside towns. Such factors are critical when assessing the suitability of locations for vulnerable people, whether in a bustling resort or a Pennine market town.
The data behind this
The elevation statistics for postcode district CA9 were sourced from Postcodes UK, which maintains detailed topographic records for every UK postcode. No sale price or land registry data was used in this analysis.
In response to reporting by BBC Wales. Analysis and figures by Postcodes UK.