THE HOME Secretary has vowed not to be swayed by petitions and protests opposing an asylum seekers' centre in Lee-on-the-Solent.

David Blunkett said he would not be influenced by a massive petition collected by residents - even though the final figure of names collected topped 32,000.

He revealed his officials had still not finished their study into the pros and cons of housing 400 male asylum seekers at the former HMS Daedalus base while their applications were processed.

His comments were made in an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo where he talked for the first time about the controversial proposal.

However, he was unable to bring an end to the uncertainty overshadowing the seaside town since the plan was first mooted in February last year.

"I have not got a date for an announcement but it will be soon," he said.

"I want to make sure we remove the uncertainty. Of course I understand the concerns of people in the town.

"Wherever you place an asylum centre, whether for induction, accommodation or removal, you end up with a major community reaction.

"But I would say that those in favour of securing asylum seekers as opposed to dispersing them into our communities have got to face up to the fact they will be placed somewhere. People want us to have this policy but they want it to be painless, and it's not."

He pledged to "weigh up" all the representations made to him by interested parties.

He warned that in the end a decision will be taken on the suitability of the site and nothing else.

"I would not want to make a decision based on the loudness of the protesters.

"I want to make it on the salience of the argument and the suitability of the site."

Chairman of the Daedalus Action Group John Beavis said he was encouraged the Home Secretary was taking a personal interest but disappointed he had left questions unanswered.

He said DAG's belief that Daedalus was the wrong place for a processing centre was shared by The Refugee Council, Amnesty International and Oxfam.

"Large accommodation centres in inappropriate locations are not what anyone wants.

"The DAG are delighted to note that the Home Secretary wants to make a decision based on the 'salience of the argument and the suitability of the site.'

"Clearly after proper investigation and taking full account of representations by those who do understand the issues involved the only decision he can reach is that the proposal is simply the wrong plan in the wrong place."