Residents of Crowborough in East Sussex have staged protests against government plans to house 540 male asylum seekers at the local Crowborough Training Camp. During a Sunday march, demonstrators were encouraged to stop paying their council tax as a form of protest, highlighting their frustration with the decision.
The Ministry of Defence has made the barracks available to the Home Office as part of a wider plan to close asylum hotels across the UK. The demonstration was the second of three planned by local residents with support from the Crowborough Shield campaign group. Sussex Police confirmed that the protest was peaceful and no arrests were made.
Nick Tenconi, leader of the UK Independence Party and chief operating officer of Turning Point UK, addressed the crowd. He said residents faced potential safety risks and called for local patrols. Tenconi described the protest as part of a “battle for the soul of our nation” and supported stronger measures for deportation.
Hundreds of residents joined the march, many expressing anger at what they saw as a lack of consultation from the Home Office. Sarah White, a 40-year-old activist, told participants she had already stopped paying her council tax because she felt local leaders were ignoring residents’ concerns. White previously faced charges for climbing a council building during a protest, which were later dropped.
White noted that months of protests outside the Bell Hotel, another site housing asylum seekers, had not changed the situation. She encouraged others to withhold council tax despite the legal risks, which can include wage deductions or imprisonment.
Some local councillors voiced support for the community. Councillor Andrew Wilson, representing Crowborough South East Ward, praised the turnout and said residents were upset about being kept in the dark. He warned that Crowborough, a small town with limited activities, might face risks similar to other towns that hosted asylum hotels.
The government has said that strict security measures will be in place, including biometric criminality checks for all asylum seekers and round-the-clock security. Wealden District Council officially opposed the plan, with council leader James Partridge citing residents’ concerns about housing 540 single men in temporary accommodation without proper activities.
Labour has committed to closing all asylum hotels before the next election, with party leader Sir Keir Starmer reportedly urging ministers to speed up the process. Meanwhile, residents in Crowborough continue to protest and voice their opposition to the government’s plans.