The quiet East Sussex town of Crowborough was filled with the sound of chanting this weekend as more than 2,000 residents marched in protest against Home Office plans to house 600 lone male migrants at a local army camp.
Fourth Weekend of Growing Anger
For the fourth consecutive weekend, furious locals took to the streets, with chants of 'shame on you' echoing through the town. The protestors started their march at the army camp itself, located just one mile from Crowborough's centre, before proceeding to a village green where campaign leaders addressed the crowd.
Kim Bailey, Chair of campaign group Crowborough Shield, told marchers that reports of a delay were nothing but a 'smokescreen'. 'This is what they want us to believe so we let our guard down,' she declared to the assembled protestors.
While a Home Office source confirmed the project has been delayed while work is carried out at the camp, Ms Bailey urged residents to remain vigilant. 'We think December 3 will be the day they move in. Please, don't let your guard down,' she warned the crowd.
Security Fears and Financial Impact
The proposed migrant facility has triggered widespread anxiety among residents, with many spending significant amounts on home security measures. Local security companies report unprecedented demand for CCTV systems, alarm installations, panic buttons, electric gates and high fencing.
Mark Hodson of Crowborough Security Systems said he's experiencing his busiest period in 35 years of business. 'I've had probably five times the normal number of enquiries since the announcement,' revealed the 61-year-old. 'People are genuinely very frightened of the prospect of unvetted young men arriving in our small town.'
Residents bordering the camp are taking extreme measures. One neighbour, identified only as Harriet, is spending approximately £40,000 on security upgrades including two-and-a-half metre fencing, electric gates and additional CCTV cameras. 'It's the deterrent factor really, everyone is feeling vulnerable, nobody is feeling safe,' she explained.
Legal Challenge and Political Fallout
Campaigners have raised more than £50,000 to fund a legal challenge against the Home Office plan, with an application for a judicial review expected to be submitted this week. The protestors have vowed to continue marching every weekend until the government abandons the scheme entirely.
The crowd's anger also targeted local politicians, with protestors demanding the resignation of Councillor Rachel Millward, deputy leader of Wealden District Council and Green Party candidate for Mayor of Sussex and Brighton. Chants of 'No accommodation, deportation' and 'Save our nation, deportation' reflected the strength of local opposition.
Simon Brown, 60, who lives next to the camp with his wife Sarah, expressed the frustration felt by many long-term residents. 'To be honest it feels like we've been punched in the gut by the Government and the council,' he said, having spent £5,000 upgrading his own security systems.
Residents emphasised that their concerns aren't about race but about the concentration of undocumented individuals. As Mr Hodson noted, 'This isn't a race issue at all, we're a welcoming, friendly town, it's just that there's a lot of nervousness around so many men of whom we know absolutely nothing about.'
The Home Office has identified Crowborough as one of two locations to accommodate small-boat arrivals with minimal warning, alongside a barracks in the Scottish Highlands. With the first migrants originally expected to arrive as early as Monday, the community remains on high alert despite the reported delay.
