Crowborough Protests Against Plans To House Asylum Seekers At Military Site

Hundreds of people have protested government plans to accommodate asylum seekers at an army training camp on the outskirts of Crowborough, East Sussex.

The Home Office announced in October that 540 men would be housed at the site as part of its effort to replace the use of hotels, which have been the focus of previous protests.

Demonstrators voiced concerns about local infrastructure, policing, and safety.

One resident said:

"We don't have enough police. We don't know who these people are.

"As a community, we just don't want them."

Others added worries about the size of the site, with some claiming there is not enough room to accommodate the planned number of residents.

The Home Office has pledged that the site will meet security, health, and wellbeing standards, and that people will only be moved there once it is “fully operational and safe.”

A spokesperson said:

"We will not replicate the mistakes of the past where rushed plans have led to unsafe and chaotic situations that impact the local community."

Previous residents from Afghanistan, accommodated at the site after the 2021 Kabul withdrawal, reportedly did not cause issues, though locals remain concerned about pressure on services.

The Home Office plans to provide most primary care on site, while residents in the area would still need to register with local GPs.

Similar protests have occurred in recent weeks, some supported by national campaigners.

The arrival date for the first asylum seekers remains unclear, though the Home Office said it aims to accelerate the plans.

The move to military sites is part of the government’s wider strategy to reduce asylum hotel use, which currently houses around 32,000 people, down from over 56,000 in 2023.

The expected cost of accommodation contracts between 2019 and 2029 has risen from £4.5bn to £15.3bn.