A local council is facing intense criticism for allocating nearly half a million pounds to celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh's 100th birthday, while residents of a town set to house hundreds of asylum seekers plead for basic security measures.
Public Outcry Over Spending Priorities
Wealden District Council has committed £450,000 to fund events marking the centenary of the beloved children's character in 2026. The revelation comes as the town of Crowborough in East Sussex grapples with the Home Office's controversial plan to accommodate up to 600 single male asylum seekers at a nearby Army base.
Residents argue the substantial sum would be better spent reactivating the town centre's CCTV network, which was switched off over a year ago. "The council says it can't do anything to stop the Home Office housing the asylum seekers but they can at least put in cameras to keep us safe," one local stated. "Instead they're giving half a million to Winnie-the-Pooh."
Mass Protest and Security Fears
The spending decision has fuelled existing tensions in the community. Around 4,000 people marched through Crowborough on Sunday to voice their opposition to the asylum seeker accommodation plans at the Army Training Camp. Protesters highlighted a critical lack of local policing infrastructure.
"We have no police station in Crowborough and no cameras," a resident explained. "Switch them back on please. They might stop crime happening but at least it will be recorded. Why not spend £450,000 on CCTV in our town instead of celebrating 100 years of Winnie the Pooh?"
Despite Home Office assurances of a delay, locals report ongoing construction activity at the camp, leading to heightened anxiety. Some neighbouring households have invested thousands in private security measures.
Council Defends Cultural Investment
In defence of the expenditure, Wealden District Council stated the investment aims to promote tourism and protect the local landscape that inspired the stories. The Hundred Acre Wood is famously based on Ashdown Forest, which surrounds Crowborough.
"This investment will help deliver a wide-reaching educational and cultural programme," a council spokesperson said. Councillor James Partridge argued, "This isn't really about Winnie-the-Pooh but this is about Ashdown Forest, which is in our trust and we really need to look after it."
However, the significant cost has raised eyebrows within the council chamber itself. Councillor Ann Newton commented, "I have nothing against Winnie-the-Pooh. We seem to be contributing a huge amount of money to this project... it just seems to be an awful lot of money."
The controversy underscores a deepening rift between local government spending on cultural projects and immediate community concerns over security and resources, amplified by the national policy of housing asylum seekers in local facilities.
