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Crowborough Residents Rally Against Plan to House Asylum Seekers at Army Camp

Local leaders say they were not consulted, with Crown land rules limiting their ability to challenge the plan.

Overview

  • Hundreds marched through the town on Saturday carrying placards and national flags to oppose housing around 600 men at Crowborough Training Camp.
  • The Home Office says moving people from hotels to sites such as Crowborough and Cameron Barracks will reduce costs and relieve pressure on communities.
  • Wealden District Council leaders criticized the lack of prior notice and said they are exploring legal options to resist the plan.
  • Because the camp sits on Crown land, normal local planning powers offer little leverage for the council to block or alter the proposal.
  • Reports differ on timing, with national coverage suggesting use by late November and local reporting saying the Crowborough site would open in the new year.