Hundreds of residents have gathered in East Sussex to protest the government’s plans to temporarily accommodate asylum seekers at a military training site on the outskirts of Crowborough.
The Home Office recently announced that the site could house up to 600 people, prompting local concerns over safety and community impact.
Keith Brown, a local resident, said: “If you dump any 600 young men of undocumented, unknown origin in a small town, you’re asking for trouble.”
A Home Office spokesperson emphasised the importance of public demonstration, saying: “The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy.” They added: “This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well under way, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities across the country.”
Steve Smith, from refugee charity Care4Calais, told the BBC: “In terms of people seeking asylum, the government has a duty, under the Refugee Convention, to house those who would be otherwise destitute.”
He described the Crowborough site as a “dilapidated old army camp” and questioned its suitability, saying: “Shovelling people into former barracks is not the best use of money and for those seeking asylum. Many have experienced trauma, including war, detention, and modern-day slavery. This is not the best accommodation for people who have undergone these experiences.”
Residents expressed significant concern over safety. Ben Grant told the BBC: “Straight after our last council meeting, I had a lot of our vulnerable, elderly and especially women who told me they are really worried about their safety.”
Rachel Nichols added: “We shouldn’t be put in a position where we have to stretch ourselves further to accommodate people who are not offering something back to our community.”
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne attended the protest, stating: “I’m here today because I’m as disgusted as local residents are about this migrant camp that’s being opened up.” She criticised the lack of consultation, saying: “The plan has been dumped on everybody. Not even I was warned about this.”
Earlier this week, the government defended its move, noting that military sites were being considered to reduce community impact and provide more cost-effective solutions for taxpayers.
Wealden District Council has formally opposed the plan, stating that it had “totally failed” to engage with the community or offer safeguards for both residents and asylum seekers.
The initiative forms part of the government’s wider attempt to end the controversial use of hotels for asylum accommodation, a policy it has pledged to phase out before the next election. As of June, roughly 32,000 asylum seekers were housed in hotels, down from more than 56,000 in 2023.
The council expressed further concerns about staffing, policing, and the strain on already overstretched public services. A petition opposing the plans has attracted approximately 6,000 signatures.
A Sussex Police spokesperson confirmed: “A planned peaceful protest took place in Crowborough on Saturday morning. Officers worked to keep any disruption to the public and businesses in the locality to a minimum.”
