Crowborough residents have told GB News they are furious Labour is risking the safety of their loved ones by moving migrants into a nearby army camp.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, the first group of 27 migrants was moved into the Crowborough Training Camp while rain lashed down across the south east on a dark and dreary night.
The move has been met with a wave of fury and distrust amongst locals while they raise concerns over the safety of their community, allowing undocumented male migrants to “roam free” in the area.
Today, hundreds gathered in the East Sussex market town to protest against migrants being moved into the military barracks, marking the 12th week of demonstrations.
The plan comes as part of the Government’s bid to end the use of asylum hotels, deploying disused army camps across Britain instead.
Blasting Labour’s move, residents Dave and Jan Cottingdon, both of whom were born and bred in the leafy village, said: “We’re just furious at the way we’ve been treated in Crowborough.
“We’ve got six granddaughters aged between 12 and 18 living in Crowborough and grandsons too.
“We feel that their safety is now at risk as they should be getting some freedom. They’re not going to be able to have that freedom now because it’s not going to be safe for them.
Locals Dave and Jan laid into the Government, auccsing Labour of compromising their loved ones’ safety
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GB NEWS
Dave added: “It’s for safety, but it’s also the way the Home Office and Government have been not listening to us.
“It’s the mistrust, the lies and deceit they’ve given not Crowborough, but it’ll be every other small town and place in the country.”
Dave went on to blast the Government for failing to provide an adequate deterrent to work on preventing the number of migrants making the perilous journey across the Channel.
“All the while, we’ve got the Government, a Prime Minister that’s got no backbone to stand up to people,” he told the People’s Channel.
CROWBOROUGH PROTESTS – READ MORE:
Residents have held regular protests against the move in Crowborough | PA
Brandishing Union Jacks and St George’s Crosses, a fleet of furious locals marched throughout the town for the 12th time on Sunday after the Government first announced plans to house up to 500 male migrants in the facility.
Crowborough Shield has lodged a legal challenge against Labour’s plans, accusing Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood of “threatening” the market town as well as other towns across the nation.
Wealden District Council is also among those looking to launch legal action against the unpopular decision.
On Friday, Ms Mahmood said she would defend any challenge “vigorously”.
She said: “I understand the strength of feeling, but I do also believe that getting out of asylum hotels is absolutely crucial for the country.
“We should never have used asylum hotels to house illegal migrants into this country.
“The level of illegal migration and asylum hotel use is far too high. Military sites are part of that solution and so we will be making this move, not just here in Crowborough but in other parts of the country as well.
“What I would say to local people is I do understand where you are coming from but we do need to close asylum hotels, which are also causing community concern.”