The MP for Sussex Weald, Nusrat Ghani, has called on Wealden District Council to consider legal action following the arrival of asylum seekers at the army training camp in Crowborough.
27 men were moved into the site in the early hours of yesterday morning, arriving in vans under police escort. The move marks the first phase of plans by the government to use the former military facility to accommodate asylum seekers, with the site expected to eventually house more than five hundred men.
The use of the Crowborough camp has been the subject of months of opposition locally, with residents and campaigners raising concerns about the impact on public services, infrastructure and community cohesion. Protests have taken place in the town, and local representatives have repeatedly questioned how the plans have been developed and communicated.
Nusrat Ghani says Wealden District Council should now explore whether there are legal grounds to challenge the decision, amid concerns about the way the site is being brought into use. She has previously criticised the lack of consultation with local authorities and residents ahead of the move.
The accommodation of asylum seekers at the camp forms part of wider government efforts, led by the Home Office, to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation. Ministers say that alternative sites, including former military facilities, are needed to reduce costs and pressures on local communities.
Wealden District Council has said it is continuing to seek clarity from the Home Office on the longer-term plans for the site, while assessing the potential impact on the local area. Further discussions are expected as the situation develops and additional arrivals are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Statement from Nusrat Ghani MP for Sussex Weald:
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