Crowborough Protest Over Plan to House 600 Asylum Seekers

Published: 17 November 2025 Monday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The early hours of Sunday brought an unusual stillness to Crowborough, a usually quiet East Sussex town better known for its proximity to the Ashdown Forest and its calm, small-town life. But that calm shifted as hundreds of residents gathered to voice their objections to a central government proposal that has drawn sharp attention across the region. The plan, first announced in October, would see up to 600 asylum seekers housed at a nearby army training facility — a move that quickly ignited debate, fear, compassion, and competing visions of community responsibility.

Crowborough is no stranger to military activity. The long-established training camp on the town’s outskirts has been part of the local landscape for decades, though it has rarely drawn national scrutiny. That changed instantly when the Home Office confirmed that the site was being readied as part of its ongoing strategy to relocate asylum seekers away from hotels and into what it calls “more suitable accommodation.” The government insists that such moves are crucial to ending the costly and politically contentious use of hotels for long-term housing of asylum applicants.

By Sunday morning, as residents stood shoulder to shoulder holding signs and banners, Sussex Police confirmed that a planned peaceful protest had taken place without incident. Officers were present to ensure safety, but no arrests were made and the demonstration remained calm, even as emotions ran high.

For many who gathered, the protest reflected deeper anxieties — not only about the arrival of hundreds of asylum seekers, but also about the speed at which the decision was made and the perceived lack of consultation with those who live and work in the area. Residents expressed concerns about infrastructure, resources, and the ability of local services to absorb such a large new population in a single move. Some also questioned the suitability of converting a military training centre into long-term living accommodations for people who are often already traumatised by war, displacement, and dangerous journeys.

Among those standing quietly on the roadside was a mother of two who said she sympathised with people fleeing danger but worried that the government was placing an outsized burden on a small town already struggling with school capacity and healthcare availability. Others stressed that their protest was not about rejecting vulnerable people, but about urging the government to act fairly and transparently when making decisions that dramatically reshape local life.

The Home Office, responding to inquiries, maintained a firm tone. A spokesperson told the BBC the department was “furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels in this country,” and described the move towards military sites, including Crowborough, as an unavoidable part of the broader push to overhaul the asylum system and reduce the use of commercial accommodations. The spokesperson said that using sites like the army base was necessary “to ease pressure on communities across the country” and insisted that public safety remains the government’s “first priority.”

For ministers, the argument is clear: hotels have become financially and politically untenable. Operating costs have soared, and critics contend that placing asylum seekers in hotels for extended periods isolates them, strains tourism, and fuels public frustration. The government has promised repeatedly to end hotel use before the next election, turning instead to former military sites, repurposed student accommodations, and refurbished barracks. Crowborough has now found itself thrust into the centre of that national transformation.

The Home Office insisted that it is coordinating closely with local authorities, property partners, and nearby communities to ensure the transition is smooth and safe, though many residents say communication has so far been limited. Several locals told reporters they felt blindsided when the plan was made public, with some learning about it only when national news outlets began reporting the story.

The issue has also reignited national debate over asylum processing, the handling of small boat crossings, and the broader political tensions surrounding immigration policy. As attempts to fast-track deportations, rewrite appeals processes, and redesign the asylum system continue to dominate Westminster discussions, towns like Crowborough are becoming flashpoints in a dispute that stretches from local councils to Parliament.

In the days since the plan was announced, community reactions have been mixed. Humanitarian groups have warned against politicising the asylum crisis, urging the government and public to remember that the individuals being relocated are often escaping violence, persecution, and hardship. Some faith groups in East Sussex have already begun preparing support networks, offering to provide clothing, translation help, and emotional support to those who may eventually be housed at the site.

On the other side, local petitions calling for reconsideration of the plan have rapidly gained signatures. Some residents argue that the remote nature of the military base, combined with its limited transport links, could leave asylum seekers isolated and unable to integrate effectively. Others are demanding clear timelines, safety assurances, and guarantees that the site will not exceed its proposed capacity of 600 people.

Local councillors have acknowledged the concerns but have urged residents to remain calm and engaged until further details are released. They insist they have been pressing the Home Office for more information about the exact timeline for relocations, the duration of the site’s use, and the range of support services that will be provided to asylum seekers once they arrive.

As the protest dispersed in the late morning, many residents said they planned to continue voicing their concerns in the coming weeks. Some hope the government will reconsider the plan, while others want more transparency before any final decision is carried out. But what was clear from the demonstration was a community mobilising in response to a national policy shift that has landed, quite directly, on its doorstep.

With tensions rising across the country about how best to manage asylum arrivals and uphold legal obligations while addressing community pressures, Crowborough’s experience may foreshadow similar debates in other towns identified for future relocations. For now, residents wait for updates — and for clarity — while the government pushes forward with its ambition to reshape the UK’s asylum accommodation landscape.

As the Home Office continues to defend its decision as part of a necessary national transition, and local residents push back out of concern for infrastructure, community identity, and fair process, Crowborough sits at the centre of a wider national struggle: how to balance compassion, practicality, and political pressure in a moment of intense scrutiny over asylum policy.