Furious residents in Crowborough, East Sussex, took to the streets protesting against plans to accommodate hundreds of asylum seekers at a former army training camp. The residents expressed their anger by chanting “Starmer out,” demanding a change in the decision made by the government to utilize military sites and temporary cabins for housing asylum seekers instead of hotels.
Despite assurances from the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to reduce reliance on asylum seeker hotels, local residents remain upset, highlighting the challenges faced after years of Conservative government instability. Concerns were raised by Crowborough residents who even installed panic alarms in their homes upon learning about the proposal to use the military camp located on the town’s outskirts.
The Home Office’s director of asylum accommodation, Andrew Larter, apologized for the lack of detailed information regarding the Crowborough plans. He mentioned that housing asylum seekers at the site would be cost-comparable to hotels but with more basic and less comfortable amenities. The site, with a capacity for about 540 individuals, aims to be self-contained with necessary facilities for health and recreation.
Community members raised worries about staffing, police presence, strain on public services, and overall public safety implications of the plan. Protests against the proposal drew hundreds of participants, with the local council considering legal options in response. Concerns were also voiced by advocacy groups regarding potential human rights violations, misuse of taxpayer funds, and the suitability of former military barracks for providing asylum seekers with a safe and supportive environment.
Amidst the opposition, a grassroots organization in Crowborough expressed confidence that the military site utilization would not proceed, emphasizing the strong community stance against the decision. The organization’s chair, Kim Bailey, highlighted concerns about the rural nature of the area, potential safety risks, and the lack of vetting for incoming asylum seekers.
Additional concerns surfaced regarding the proximity of the site to a Sussex Police firearms test center, raising worries about the impact of loud noises and potential retraumatization of asylum seekers. Various organizations and individuals, including Nicola David of One Life to Live and Tim Naor Hilton from Refugee Action, emphasized the unsuitability of large military camps for accommodating vulnerable individuals seeking safety.
The Home Office defended the use of military sites, citing benefits for taxpayers and reducing the burden on local communities. The Labour Party committed to discontinuing the use of hotels for asylum seekers before the upcoming election. Responding to inquiries, a Sussex Police spokesperson declined to provide further details about the Kingstanding training site for operational reasons.
