The deal between Portland Port and the Home Office, which will see some 500 asylum seekers housed on a barge for 18 months, has been roundly condemned by Dorset councillors.

One councillor, Weymouth's Louie O'Leary, described the arrangement as "a Devil's deal" at a council meeting last night (Thursday) and said the port company would regret the day it was agreed, claiming that many local people now hold the business in utter contempt.

An hour long debate, ending shortly after 10pm, saw councillors from all political groups lining up to oppose the agreement – almost all claiming the barge was the wrong accommodation for the asylum seekers, and in the wrong place.

Protestors against the barge and those more sympathetic greeted councillors arriving for the County Hall debate, although few stayed throughout the three-hour meeting before the discussion even started.

Councillors approved a motion from Littlemoor and Preston councillor Tony Ferrari, not only condemning the commercial agreement, taken with no local consultation, but also asking for the Bibby Stockholm barge to be removed from Portland Port as soon as possible.

Councillors were told that the agreement between Portland Port and the Home Office was for 18 months with asylum seekers, all men who have been in the country for some time, being introduced to the barge in batches of 50 at a time.

Each will be free to leave the "floating hotel", as it has been described, when they like with buses arranged to take them in and out of the port area.

Cllr Ferrari said that, although they opposed the arrangements, Dorset Council would work with other agencies to mitigate the impact on local people.

He said it was bad enough to impose new arrivals to the country on a small community, and even worse to do it in a large group.

"It should be stopped now before it is proven to all of us what a bad idea it is," he said.

Portland's Labour councillor, Paul Kimber, succeeded in making an addition to the original Conservative motion, to recognise the situation the asylum seekers find themselves in, and the contribution immigrants make to the country, adding that they should be treated with dignity and respect.

Many spoke about the need to acknowledge that the asylum seekers were in a situation not of their own making.

Weymouth's Green councillor, Brian Heatley, said he was appalled at some of the abuse directed at councillors for doing their job and trying to make the best something they did not ask for.

"We mustn't lose sight of the human situation," he said.

"These are fellow human beings entitled to help."

Portland councillor Susan Cocking said that she had been abused over the barge proposal – and while she believed the three-storey vessel was wrong, people ought to think about what they might do in a similar situation.

"We should recognise that these people are refugees trying to do the best they can," she said.

Fellow Portland councillor Rob Hughes said the situation had led to full inboxes over a decision which had been imposed on Portland.

"We did not ask for this… it's very hard for us all, but we're trying to deal with it the best we can," he commented.

The United Kingdom has a legal obligation to support asylum seekers, who would otherwise be destitute. The government is using barges and other accommodation options as an alternative to hotels to house asylum seekers, saying this offers better value for the taxpayer.

Dorset Council has negotiated a funding package from the government of £3,500 per occupied bed space on the Bibby Stockholm, plus a one-off payment of £377,000.

The barge is expected to be moored at Portland Port for 18 months and will house up to 500 asylum seekers – adult males aged between 18 to 65 from various countries, all of whom will have been in the UK for some time.

Asylum seekers will have been through a 'suitability screening' process that includes physical and mental health checks and security screenings, such as identity checks against UK immigration and police data bases.