Protest over plan to house 600 asylum seekers in town

Protest over plan to house 600 asylum seekers in town.

A protest has taken place in an East Sussex town over the government’s plans to shelter 600 asylum seekers at a military base.

In October, the government announced plans to lodge asylum seekers in an army training camp on the outskirts of Crowborough. Sussex Police confirmed that a planned peaceful protest took place in the town on Sunday morning, with no arrests.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office told the BBC that they were “furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels in this country”.

A sign saying "Crowborough says No! No!! No!!!" with flags attatched to the sign

IMAGE SOURCE, EDDIE MITCHELL

Image caption, The Home Office apologised for the handling of the plans to house asylum seekers in Crowborough

Moving asylum seekers to military locations, including the one in Crowborough, is part of the government’s effort to put a stop to the controversial use of hotels, which it has promised to do by the next election.

A representative for the Home Office explained: “It is why work is under way to move asylum seekers into more suitable accommodation such as military bases, to ease pressure on communities across the country.” Public safety remains our top priority.

“We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and the local community as we transition away from using hotels.”

A sign reading "600 unamed individuals, single men free to roam, 5 mins from town centre, 5 mins from local schools, what about our feeling of safety & security? So so wrong!"

IMAGE SOURCE, EDDIE MITCHELL

The Home Office has apologised for how it handled proposals to lodge asylum seekers at the Crowborough military facility.

Wealden District Council had attacked the Home Office for a “information vacuum” surrounding the plans, which it claimed had stoked community tensions and threats against councillors.

A large group of people walking down a street in Crowborough

IMAGE SOURCE, EDDIE MITCHELL

Read more on Straightwinfortoday.com

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.