Sussex Weald MP welcomes delay to Home Office plans to use army camp to house asylum seekers
Sussex Weald MP welcomes delay to Home Office plans to use army camp to house asylum seekers.
The MP for Sussex Weald has welcomed a delay in the Home Office’s plans to repurpose Crowborough Army Camp for asylum seeker housing.
Nusrat Ghani made the news on Monday, December 1: “After 50 days of persistent forensic questioning and campaigning against the Home Office and Wealden District Council (WDC), we have secured a much-needed delay on the site being operational.” A representative for WDC clarified:
“The Home Office continue to undertake its feasibility assessment on the use of the site and have confirmed to us that no decision has yet been made.”
The Home Office said in October that the site would hold up to 540 single male adults for up to a year, beginning at the end of November.
However, WDC responded to the Home Office Minister, objecting to the proposals and stating that the council was seeking legal advice on how to fight the decision.
WDC also began posting updates about the idea, and in a November 19 update, WDC stated that it had passed a motion at Full Council opposing the plan.
The council stated that it would reject the plan “provided that this is done lawfully and with due and full regard for the potential cost and risk to the council of any action that may be taken.”
It continued: “The motion also called on active participation and collaboration of partner organisations to join Wealden District Council in opposing the plans.”
Ms Ghani had already conducted two community meetings on November 10, with almost 500 residents in attendance to hear from Home Office officials and the Wealden District Council.
While announcing the postponement in Crowborough Army Camp plans, the MP stated, “This is progress, and a small win for every Crowborough resident who has joined me via my petition and in directly challenging the Home Office and Wealden District Council with emails and letters.”
However, she stated that the Home Office’s plans had been ‘disrupted’ by ‘the difficult and uncomfortable challenges we have raised’. She said:
“The community’s and my continued pressure on the Home Office is working, and we must let up.
“We must continue to demand transparency, accountability, and honesty.” The MP continued, “I’m glad to have also secured progress for our Crowborough Cadets.
During my discussion this afternoon (December 1) with Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP and five of his Cadet Advisers, it was confirmed that Crowborough Cadets will no longer have access to the facility beginning next week, and a new site will be sought for them.”
“The community’s and my continued pressure on the Home Office is working, and we must let up.
“We must continue to demand transparency, accountability, and honesty.” The MP continued, “I’m glad to have also secured progress for our Crowborough Cadets.
During my discussion this afternoon (December 1) with Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP and five of his Cadet Advisers, it was confirmed that Crowborough Cadets will no longer have access to the facility beginning next week, and a new site will be sought for them.”
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