SNUB after snub. Yet again the government has chosen to ignore the views of residents campaigning against plans for an asylum seeker centre at Lee-on-the-Solent.

Home Office minister Beverley Hughes has yet again failed to acknowledge a letter that was hand delivered to the Labour party conference more than a month ago.

The letter was delivered by members of action groups campaigning against asylum seeker centres proposed at sites across the country.

Almost 200 campaigners demonstrated outside the Bournemouth International Centre in a bid to get their voices heard.

They were told the letter had been passed to Mrs Hughes' office to respond but as yet no reply has been received by any of the action groups opposing the centres at Newton, Bicester and HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent.

Chairman of the Daedalus Action Group John Beavis has now e-mailed the minister demanding a reply.

He said: "We want to keep the pressure on the government to let them know that we want answers. It has come as no real surprise that they have yet again not responded to our letter. I have contacted the other action groups and they have heard nothing either so I have e-mailed Mrs Hughes another copy of the letter in the hope of some reply."

The snub is the latest in a long line of public relation gaffs by the government who have kept residents in Lee-on-the-Solent on tenterhooks for nine months following the announcement the former MoD airbase was being earmarked to house 400 asylum seekers.

Despite a high profile campaign by the Daedalus Action Group a decision has still not yet been made whether the government will press ahead with a planning application, despite assurances from them before the summer that a decision would be made "soon".

Home Office spokesman Ray Tang said the Home Office had only recently received the letter and a reply would be forthcoming. "It is unfortunate there has been a delay. This is due to the letter being addressed to the prime minister. It has gone through several government departments until ending up with the Home Office.

"However, we envisage a reply being made soon and within 20 working days of it being received by the Home Office, as set down in our guidelines."

He added all opinions would be taken into consideration before any decision was made on the asylum seeker centre.