Residents in Crowborough, East Sussex, have staged protests against government plans to house hundreds of asylum seekers at a disused military training camp. Around 1,000 people marched through the town on Sunday, chanting 'Starmer out' and carrying banners with slogans such as '#ProtectOurElderly' and 'Protect our children'. The camp, which has capacity for about 540 people, is located on the outskirts of the town.
The Home Office's director of asylum accommodation, Andrew Larter, apologised for a lack of detail on the plans during a meeting with locals on Monday. He stated that the accommodation would be 'more spartan' and 'less comfortable' than hotels, but would cost roughly the same. Larter added that the site would be 'as self-contained as possible', with health and recreational facilities, and that a community impact assessment was underway to ensure the site was 'safe, legal and compliant'.
Concerns have been raised about staffing levels, police provision, and the impact on public services. Additionally, the site is just 1.2 miles from a Sussex Police firearms test centre, where activists claim firearms, Taser, and police dog drills take place. Nicola David of One Life to Live, a campaign group opposing large-scale containment sites, warned that sounds of shooting could retraumatise asylum seekers fleeing war and conflict.
Local campaign group chair Kim Bailey expressed confidence that the plan would not go ahead, citing legal advice. She told MailOnline: 'The strength of feeling is just incredible. Their whole plan is wrong.' Bailey described the asylum seekers as 'unvetted men' and raised concerns about the rural location, saying: 'If crimes were to happen, they are going to go unheard.'
Wealden District Council is considering legal options to challenge the plan. Meanwhile, refugee charities have also criticised the proposal. Conversation Over Borders warned of potential 'human rights failures' and a waste of taxpayers' money, while Steve Smith of Care4Calais said: 'Shovelling people into former barracks is not the best use of money.'
