Local residents have vigorously protested against the move and have now applied for a judicial review in the High Court to stop the government
Protesters take to the streets to voice opposition to government plans (Image: X social media)
A Conservative MP has accused the Labour government of keeping locals “in the dark” over plans to accommodate hundreds of migrants at a former army base. Anger erupted in Crowborough, East Sussex after the Home Office announced in October that 540 male migrants would be moved an army training camp on the outskirts of the town.
The decision was part of a government scheme to stop using hotels as accommodation for refugees, which has proved controversial. The previous Tory government had scraped plans to use the training camp after the housing was deemed unsuitable for living. But Home Office officials now claim it will comply with security, health and well-being standards
Nusrat Ghani is a Tory MP (Image: Getty)
Teenage cadets have been ordered to evacuate the premises by the Ministry of Defence, as the government presses ahead with its plans.
Local residents have vigorously protested against the move and have now applied for a judicial review in the High Court to stop the government
The community association Crowborough Shield claims Labour has acted unlawfully by going ahead without planning permission or consulting local residents.
They also argue that the government has not given due consideration of the site’s proximity to the Ashdown Forest special protection area.
Nusrat Ghani – the Tory MP for Sussex Weald – said the government had ignored the concerns of local residents and she supported the legal challenge.
“It was very clear from that first meeting that the Home Office were working with the district council, and none of our concerns were addressed,” she told GB News. “This is a site that the Home Office has to show is safe, legal and compliant. And there’s been no consultation.
“So we’re all in the dark and Crowborough Shield are doing what the Crowborough community wants.”
Demonstrators have said they will continue to protest and have no intention of backing down.
Darren Corner told MailOnline at a recent protest: “We will get louder and bigger. They will be forced to abandon their plans.
“We’re not going to back down. We will fight this all the way.”
