Crowborough protesters march against migrant camp
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Crowborough after Government plans to keep using a former military base to accommodate migrants until 2030 sparked a fresh protest.
Campaigners marched from Crowborough Training Camp, an ex-Army barracks currently being used to accommodate migrants who crossed the Channel in small boats, into the East Sussex town centre days after ministers revealed the site would remain in use for another five years. Families and young children joined the demonstration, which was met by a smaller counter-protest after reaching the town centre.
The extension was announced earlier this week despite claims Home Office officials had previously given council leaders "unequivocal denials" that the accommodation would continue beyond this year.
Counter-protesters held signs reading "one world, one love" and "everyone is our neighbour".
Those opposing the continued use of the camp outnumbered the counter-demonstration, chanting "Keir Starmer is a traitor" and "whose streets, our streets".
Protesters also sang: "We are all getting poorer, no help for British suffering, but for those across our borders.
"Hospitals at breaking point, mental health at an all-time high. We must all be united. To hear our cries."
Leading the march was a silver Ford van decorated with England flags and signs saying "stop the boats" and "Crowborough says no". According to the DVLA, the vehicle's MOT expired on 5 June, 23 days before the protest.
Among those taking part was Sandra March, 49, who explained why she believed the continued use of the military site posed a risk to locals, reports the Daily Mail.
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She said: "It's a disgrace. It's disgusting. This poses a danger to our community.
"Hundreds of men, unvetted and unaccounted for. They hang around in this town. It's unsettling to women out on their own. It's a diabolical decision.
"Those in charge should hang their heads in shame."
Another demonstrator claimed residents had left the area because of the camp and said people no longer felt safe.
The protester said: "People have left the area because of the camp. People don't feel safe. We were told it would not be for longer than a year. Now it's another four years.
"It's shocking. What's the point of paying our council tax? Nobody voted for this."
The demonstration came days after Labour was urged to put more migrants "on a plane home" as ministers unveiled plans to expand asylum accommodation by bringing three more former military sites into use.
Planning applications have been submitted to convert RAF Barnham in Suffolk, RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire and a former Army barracks in Bicester, Oxfordshire, into accommodation for asylum seekers.
Ministers have also proposed extending and expanding the use of existing sites, including Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.
Taken together, the plans would create close to 5,000 additional bed spaces for migrants arriving in the UK by small boat.
Previous proposals to house up to 1,500 asylum seekers at RAF Linton-on-Ouse were abandoned in 2022 following protests by local residents and a legal challenge brought by the council.