Campaigners are also seeking a judicial review of a decision to house asylum seekers near the town.
Some locals in Crowborough have taken to the streets in protest (Image: Getty)
A town is suing the Government over plans to house hundreds of asylum seekers at a nearby former army barracks. The Home Office wants to accommodate over 500 people at Crowborough Army Camp in East Sussex, for up to three months at a time.
The first single adult male asylum seekers moved into the former army training camp in January after vowing to end the use of hotels to house migrants. But some locals are taking Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to court in a bid to thwart the plan. Kim Bailey and fellow campaigners from the group Crowborough Shield want a judicial review of the decision to use the centre as a migrant camp.
She told Sky News: “We’re not going to be deterred. She’s going to use us as a message to the rest of the country to say, ‘Don’t bother challenging me,’ and essentially make an example of us. It’s shameful.”
The High Court is due to decide if there should be a judicial review on Wednesday (February 25).
Its decision could have implications for other sites the Government wants to use to house asylum seekers.
Wealden District Council leader James Partridge has said previously that the local authority instructed its legal team to see if they can bring a legal challenge against the Home Office’s decision.
Mr Partridge told Sky on Tuesday that the council is going to use council taxpayers’ money to sue the Government and the Government is going to use taxpayers’ money to defend itself.
The Home Office insists the asylum seekers who live at the site have undergone initial screening checks and the majority of illegal migrants claiming asylum in Britain are single adult males.
Asylum seekers are set “clear expectations” about their behaviour at and away from the camp, which the Government says is a “strict” alcohol free zone.
But Crowborough locals voiced concerns about the migrants, warning civil unrest could erupt.
Over 500 asylum seekers will be housed at the camp (Image: Getty)
Retired shop-fitter, Chris Eustace, 80, told the broadcaster it won’t be long before “hot-blooded” young men coming from countries with a “different attitude to life” start doing “naughty things” with young girls.
He warned such a scenario would lead to civil unrest, but the Government “just doesn’t realise” it.
Another local said people were coming to Britain for sanctuary and as a “proud” nation the UK should provide that support.
The Home Office has said use of the site is temporary and it intends to return it to the Ministry of Defence.
It also said Government officials were working with Sussex Police on making sure the “correct” level of policing is in place, while there is 24/7 security at the camp, including CCTV.
