Crowborough Residents Stage Mass Protest Over Asylum Centre Plans.

Hundreds of residents have demonstrated against Home Office proposals to house 600 male asylum seekers at a local army training facility, with concerns raised over community safety and lack of consultation.

Residents of Crowborough, East Sussex, mounted their third consecutive weekend of protests as the Home Office prepares to relocate approximately 600 single male asylum seekers to a military training site by month’s end.

The demonstrations have drawn hundreds of local residents expressing frustration over what they describe as inadequate community consultation on the plans.

Growing Community Concerns

Sunday’s demonstration saw marchers wearing numbered bibs from 1 to 600, representing each asylum seeker expected at the facility. Organisers estimated attendance reached 3,000 people, who braved heavy rain to voice their objections.

Local residents have raised multiple concerns about the proposal, including the impact on existing community services and questions about safeguarding procedures.

The army camp currently hosts cadet training programmes. Adult cadet instructors have indicated they may suspend operations once asylum seekers arrive, citing safeguarding concerns about mixing youth programmes with adult residents at the site.

Crowborough Shield, a residents’ opposition group, has warned that cadets face displacement with no alternative venue identified.

Official Response

The Ministry of Defence stated it takes cadet safety seriously and continues working with the Home Office to assess potential impacts on Cadet Forces.

Sussex Police confirmed officers attended a community event in Crowborough as part of routine crime prevention work. The force is also investigating reports of damaged windows at the training camp.

Local Perspective

Councillor Andrew Wilson, representing Crowborough South East Ward, described the community response as understandable given residents felt uninformed about the plans. He questioned whether the Home Office had adequately assessed the proposal’s suitability for the town.

The Home Office plans mark Crowborough as one of two locations designated to receive small-boat arrivals on short notice. With a population of approximately 22,000, residents have expressed concern about their town’s capacity to absorb the new arrivals. Further demonstrations are scheduled for the coming weekend.RetryClaude can make mistakes.