Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, spoke to ITV News Meridian on Monday 1st December, as part of reports on the ongoing concerns over the possibility of asylum seekers being housed at a military camp in Crowborough.
Click HERE to watch the report.
Crowborough community group fears asylum-seekers will move into army camp next week
Campaigners believe asylum seekers could start arriving at a military training camp in Sussex as-soon-as next week, despite the Home Office confirming the scheme is delayed.
Migrants had been due to move in to a former military training camp in Crowborough by the end of November, but that deadline has now passed
The Home Office has said it will delay its plans until the site is 'safe and ready' but those against its use as migrant accommodation are still preparing legal action, worried people will be moving in within days.
Kim Bailey, from the community group Crowborough Shield, said, "We know that there's a lot of building work going on up there. There's a lot of asbestos removal. There's, I think, lead paint being removed. The site's not quite ready. I think they'll go in next week."
Asked by ITV News Meridian how that would make her feel, Kim said, "Betrayed. Because it's a decision that's being made about all town and about what happens to our town without our say. "
Plans were revealed by the Government in October for the asylum seekers to be housed at the site in Crowborough, as part of its promise to end the use of asylum hotels.
The announcement received backlash from Wealden District Council, which last month voted unanimously against the proposed conversion of the camp.
It's also sparked protests in the town, with thousands walking through the town on Sunday.
Over the weekend a Home Office spokesperson said, "We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels. Moving to large military sites is an important part of our reforms to tackle illegal migration and the pull factors that make the UK an attractive destination."
Local Conservative MPs have also expressed their ongoing concern about the possibility of people moving onto the site.
Wealden MP Nus Ghani said, "I will continue to be persistent and forensic and hold the Home Office to account. They have yet to show any of the assessments to make us feel confident, well they haven't shown us anything to be honest, hat the site is legal, safe and compliant and the same with the Ministry of Defence as well. We know there is a lot of building works going on up there. There's a lot of asbestos removal there is led paint being removed.
Mims Davies, MP for East Grinstead and Uckfield, said, "The fact that nobody has moved in, as yet, is not a surprise, because they haven't done their homework in terms of health and safety and more importantly, consultation. I'm still not getting direct messages to me as the neighbouring constituency MP. If it's just suddenly under the cover of santa and Christmas, suddenly everybody moves in, then I think the community would be rightfully very upset."
