THE Government has confirmed it has temporarily abandoned plans to establish an immigration removal centre near Stansted Airport.

The announcement has been welcomed by Stansted MP Sir Alan Haselhurst, who said it would come as a "great relief" to residents. Last year the Home Office identified several sites in the Stansted area that were being considered for development, including Thremhall Priory on the A120 between Takeley and the Birchanger roundabout.

But in a letter to Sir Alan last week, Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said that "for the time being" the Government had decided not to pursue a site search.

Sir Alan said: "There will be great relief that the Thremhall Priory site has been rejected. I'm very glad the Government has listened to the volume and quality of representations that ministers have received on this subject, not least from myself."

Ms Hughes added that if the Government decided to look again in the area consultation would be carried out with Uttlesford Council and other interested parties as early as possible.

Sir Alan said: "Of course there is no guarantee that the subject will not be raised again. In a democratic system no-one can bind the future.

"Yet it's very significant that the minister has been prepared to make a formal decision to call off the hunt for a suitable site in Uttlesford. In my view there never was one in the first place."