A Crowborough resident has lashed out on GB News against Labour while the Government continues to move migrants into an army camp in the heart of East Sussex.
Resident Simon Brown, whose home neighbours the main entrance of the camp, raised concerns on GB News over the Home Office’s plan to move in hundreds of asylum seekers into the leafy village.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, the first group of 27 migrants was moved into an Crowborough Training Camp while rain lashed down across the south east on a dark and dreary night, triggering a wave of fury and distrust amongst locals.
In the Government’s bid to end the use of asylum hotels, Labour is using two military barracks to house up to 900 asylum seekers, with one in Inverness and another in Crowborough.
And, ever since it was announced in November, East Sussex families have fought back against the move every weekend, rain or shine.
Asked why the Home Office decided to move the migrants in overnight rather than during the day, Mr Brown, sounding defeated, said: “We don’t know. We don’t really believe anything at the Home Office tells us anymore.
“We were told before Christmas that there was going to be 72-hours notice in the end. It was seven hours. So you could make your own assumptions about the information that’s coming from the Home Office.”
Today is the 12th Sunday protest where furious locals have marched through their town fighting against Labour’s decision, with many being worried about their community’s safety, including Mr Brown.
He told Camilla: “The reason [why we are worried is] that the camp is so close to the town. Some of the media, with the over-head videos, give the impression the camp is in the middle of a forest and it’s a secure military site.
“It’s not. It’s literally on the edge of Crowborough town. Behind me, there’s a bus stop that’s used by schoolchildren every morning.
“Eleven preschool and primary schools. The main high street is a 20-minute walk. It literally is right on our doorstep.”
Mr Brown continued to fume over the lack of any consultation from the Home Office, failing to keep residents updated on the relevant developments.
Residents have held regular protests against the move in Crowborough
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He added: “I have an email on my phone that’s been sent by Wealden District Council to their planning department telling them not to visit homes or businesses in Crowborough on their own because it’s too dangerous. I mean that.
“And that is that is a rubber-stamp is this is a really dangerous situation for the whole community.”
Now, the same fury has been fanned by Labour’s decision to postpone a number of local elections across Britain, including those that were due to take place in East Sussex.
He told Camilla: “That’s the frustration on top of the anger that we all feel in the local community. Democracy is being taken away from us and we have no ability to be heard.
A car covered in graffiti messages during a protest in Crowborough
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“It is a desperate situation. And you have to pinch yourself to think that you’re living in Great Britain anymore. I mean, it really is that bad.
“I’m fortunate that my my daughters have both left home. They’re in their late 20s. But we’ve got neighbors who have got young children and they’re petrified.
“They’re petrified. They can’t walk to school anymore. They are so so worried.”
More migrants are set to be moved into the site, which is due to house up to hundreds more individuals.