Hundreds of residents in the East Sussex town of Crowborough have staged a major protest against government proposals to house up to 600 asylum seekers in a nearby abandoned military complex.
Community Outcry and Sunday March
On Sunday morning, approximately 1,000 furious locals marched through the town's main high street. Protesters were seen carrying banners with slogans such as "#ProtectOurElderly" and "Our Children's freedom gone, so they can have their's". Reports indicate some chanted "Starmer out", voicing their anger directly at the current government.
The demonstration follows the revelation that the Home Office plans to use the disused Crowborough Training Camp, a former military site on the outskirts of the town, to accommodate asylum seekers. This government initiative to use former military bases and pop-up cabins was launched after pressure to stop using hotels for asylum accommodation.
Official Apology and Community Safety Fears
Earlier in the week, Andrew Larter, the Home Office's director of asylum accommodation, apologised for a lack of detail provided about the plans during a local meeting. He informed concerned residents and councillors that housing asylum seekers at the site would cost a similar amount to using hotels, but described the proposed accommodation as "more spartan" and "less comfortable".
He stated the camp, which has a capacity for roughly 540 people, would be designed to be as self-contained as possible, including its own health and recreational facilities. Larter also confirmed that ministers are finalising a community impact assessment to ensure the site is "safe, legal and compliant".
Despite these assurances, local fears are running high. Residents have claimed they have 'installed panic alarms' in their homes since the plan was announced. Key concerns raised include:
- Inadequate staffing and police provision at the camp.
- Additional strain on local public services like healthcare and schools.
- Potential risks to public safety.
Legal Challenges and Human Rights Concerns
Wealden District Council has confirmed it is exploring legal options to challenge the government's plan. A local grassroots organisation, chaired by Kim Bailey, has claimed it is confident the proposal will not proceed after consulting its legal team.
Bailey expressed the depth of local feeling, stating, "The strength of feeling is just incredible. Their whole plan is wrong." She raised specific fears about housing "unvetted men" from war-torn countries in a rural area surrounded by forest, suggesting crimes could go unheard.
Campaign groups have also voiced significant human rights and welfare concerns. Nicola David of One Life to Live highlighted the site's proximity—just 1.2 miles—from the Sussex Police Kingstanding firearms test centre. She warned that the sounds of shooting and potential detonations from the training facility would be highly likely to retraumatise people fleeing war and persecution.
Tim Naor Hilton, Chief Executive of Refugee Action, echoed these concerns, stating, "Large military camps are never safe or appropriate accommodation sites for people seeking safety." He referenced a Home Affairs Committee report warning of a high risk of suicide and harm in such sites.
Charities like Care4Calais and Conversation Over Borders have criticised the plan, arguing it risks human rights failures, wastes taxpayers' money, and isolates vulnerable individuals.
The Home Office maintains that using military sites provides better value for taxpayers and reduces the impact on communities. Meanwhile, Sussex Police declined to comment in detail on the operations at the Kingstanding training site, citing operational reasons.
