A thousand residents took to the streets today to protest plans to house hundreds of migrants in a Sussex town’s former army barracks.
Around 540 male asylum seekers are set to move into the cadet camp as early as this month as part of a government plan to reduce the number of hotels it uses to house them.
This is the ninth Sunday since the plan was announced in October that furious residents marched in opposition to the idea.
Around 1,000 people form the town gathered at the No8 Crowborough Army Cadet Centre at 10am on this icy morning for the latest march around the town.
Community group members have said the Home Office ‘hasn’t engaged’ or given any answers to their grievances, adding that housing the migrants here would be ‘inhumane’ because there is asbestos present.
Twenty police officers were on hand, including a video surveillance unit, to guide the march from the camp into the town centre.
The local Wealden District Council has joined a community backed legal challenge led by Crowborough Shield to force a full judicial review on the Home Office‘s plans to house migrants into the town.
The community group has raised more than £87,000 for legal fees and says they are angry about the lack of transparency and consultation on the Government’s decision.
This is the ninth consecutive Sunday that marches have stormed through Crowborough since the Home Office announced the plan for migrants in October
Around 20 police officers were on standby to guide the protests from the camp into the town centre
Particular concern is focused around the effect the migrants will have on infrastructure, health services, policing and staffing at the camp.Â
Kim Bailey, director of Crowborough Shield, said: ‘We are continuing to protest because the Home Office hasn’t backed down, it hasn’t engaged with us or given us the answers to any of our concerns.
‘They are listening so we will continue to exercise our democratic right to protest to ensure we are heard. We are not backing down.
’It is also inhumane to house migrants in barracks which has asbestos in it, Legionnaire’s Disease is known to be there and has lead paint on the walls. That isn’t compassionate.’
Alex De Warrenne, who is also a director, said: ‘No one is going to give up on this. We are fully united across the town about what we think about this, the impact it will have on infrastructure such as doctors and dentists.
‘There are multiple reasons why this site is not suitable. The Home office hasn’t carried out the necessary checks to ensure this plan is safe for the people of the town but also safe for the people they are going to house there.’
Andrew Wilson, an Independent councillor on Wealden District Council, said: ‘There are many reasons why it’s not the right place for 600 migrants but in the middle of all that this facility was also used by military cadets and was a significant facility for the MoD.
‘The Home Office has been very aloof and distant from the council with communication being sparse and that is wrong. There was initial reluctance from the council which has now been corrected after it took into account the overwhelming views of the residents.’
Ministers and officials are understood to be preparing the Crowborough military base to house 540 male migrants in the New Year
Defying the demonstrators, a woman shouted from her car: ‘I say “yes” to migrants. I say “yes”. Have some heart.’
However, there was some pushback amongst residents in favour of housing the migrants in the barracks.
One woman rolled down her car window and called out to protestors holding a sign saying ‘Crowborough says no’.
She shouted: ‘I say “yes” to migrants. I say “yes”. Have some heart.’
Another female dog walker said: ‘Where is the compassion for other people who have fled for the lives to this country? I’d like to think we are a welcoming town but this display suggests otherwise and I feel dreadfully ashamed.
‘To assume the migrants are going to bring crime, be dangerous or harm women and children is itself a racist and prejudiced viewpoint.
‘The organisers of these marches are fear-mongering and it’s wrong and I am totally opposed to it.’
One woman had to be surrounded by police in her car as she berated passing marchers.
In December, a group of diehard protestors were branded ‘vigilantes’ after they set up a street patrol in the town to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The Crowborough Patrol plans to wander the town centre day and night wearing hi-vis jackets and red baseball caps.
Work has begun in the camp to prepare for the arrival of the migrants with accommodation, toilet blocks and security fencing being erected.
Patrol group members are distinguishable by their red baseball caps and high-vis jackets Â
The Home Office had hoped to start using the cadet camp in December, but those plans were delayed to ensure the site was safe
Protestors set up a picket line at the entrance to the camp to stop workers from their construction.
This ended with a confrontation between a protestor and a worker at the camp to which the police had to be called after an assault was reported.
A 44-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.
Sussex Police has issued a temporary section 34 dispersal notice giving officers powers to order people to leave roads surrounding the barracks.
Residents, especially those who live on their own, say they are installing panic alarms in their homes over safety fears.
The Home Office has apologised for its handling of its plans to use the Crowborough camp to house asylum seekers, but says it is determined to stamp out the use of hotels to house migrants.