A protest has taken place in Crowborough, East Sussex, following government proposals to accommodate 600 asylum seekers at a former military training camp on the edge of the town.
The plans, first announced in October, form part of the government’s wider effort to phase out the use of hotels for asylum accommodation ahead of the next general election. The Crowborough site is among several military facilities earmarked for conversion.
Sussex Police said a pre-planned, peaceful demonstration was held on Sunday morning, adding that the event passed without incident and no arrests were made.
Signs carried by protesters expressed concerns about safety and the impact on the local community. One banner read: “600 unnamed individuals, single men free to roam… what about our feeling of safety & security?”
A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC the department remained “furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels in this country,” and said transferring people to military bases was intended to ease pressure on local areas.
“It is why work is under way to move asylum seekers into more suitable accommodation such as military bases,” the spokesperson said. “Public safety remains our first priority. We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and the local community as we transition away from using hotels.”
The Home Office has also apologised for its handling of the Crowborough plan. Wealden District Council previously criticised the department for creating an “information vacuum” that it said had fuelled community tensions and led to threats against councillors. Photo by Crowborough High Street by Paul Gillett, Wikimedia commons.