For the fifth consecutive weekend, more than two thousand protestors have gathered in Crowborough, East Sussex, to voice fierce opposition to government plans to house hundreds of asylum seekers at a disused army camp.
Community Fears and Vocal Opposition
The focal point of the anger is a proposal from the Home Office to accommodate up to 600 male asylum seekers at the former military site on the town's outskirts. The march, which moved from the camp into the town centre, saw families and residents carrying signs with slogans like 'protect our women and children' and 'who's streets, our streets'.
Debbie Green, a 42-year-old mother and financial controller who lives within a mile of the site, expressed the anxiety felt by many. "It's sickening. We will not stop," she said, revealing she had spent £2,000 on extra home security, including new alarms. "We do not want 500 male migrants here. It is not suitable... Look at the problems other places have had. There's been sexual and violent attacks on women."
Cadets Displaced and a Growing Campaign
The protest also drew support from former cadets and their families, who were recently displaced from the facility. The Army Cadet unit held its final parade there last Wednesday, with the Air Cadets departing on Thursday. The Ministry of Defence stated it was "scoping options" for the cadets to continue their activities elsewhere.
Organisers have vowed the demonstrations will remain peaceful, with dozens of police officers in attendance. The campaign's momentum is growing, with a legal fund now exceeding £50,000. Gary, a 52-year-old service manager and one of the organisers, said: "We're leading a charge against these plans. Everyone is scared. The weather hasn't put people off today."
Local Council Defied as Plans Proceed
Despite the sustained local opposition, the Home Office is pushing ahead with the scheme. This move comes even after Wealden District Council voted unanimously against the proposals in November. Protestors like builder Darren Corner, 54, who has two teenage daughters, are determined to continue. "We will get louder and bigger," he asserted. "They will be forced to abandon their plans. We're not going to back down."
The ongoing dispute in Crowborough highlights the intense local tensions surfacing across Britain as the government seeks solutions to the Channel small boat crisis, often bypassing local authority consent in the process.
