Nusrat has been working with the Crowborough community since last year and objecting and challenging both the Home Office and Wealden District Council over Crowborough Training Camp.
Due to the lack of transparency and lack of public meetings and local consultation, on 23rd February Nusrat formally submitted a letter to the Chair of the Home Office Select Committee, Dame Karen Bradley MP, asking the Committee to consider holding an inquiry into both the Home Office’s approach and the role of the local lead Wealden District Council.
Nusrat has been appalled by the lack of information being shared, which feeds misinformation and community concern. The submission is requesting the Committee to focus on how there is no effective way for members of the public, local community groups and the Cadets to hold to account the Home Office or Wealden District Council. Worryingly there are no minutes on meetings between Wealden District Council and the Home Office.
Further to this, Nusrat has called on the Committee to examine a number of other areas within the three over-arching themes. These include, but aren’t limited to examining the absence of any requirement for the Home Office to evidence that a site is safe, legal, or compliant. The ongoing cost to the taxpayer and the fact the site was already functioning as the South East Training Camp for Cadets and other blue light services.
Given the seriousness of the issues, Nusrat has called upon the Home Affairs Select Committee to hold an evidence-led session at which both the Home Office and Wealden District Council would be required to attend and give evidence.
Nusrat Ghani said: The events of the last six months have caused unnecessary strain on the wonderful community of Crowborough, and the wider villages across Sussex Weald.
At every step I have stood up for the over 10,000 people who have supported my petition calling for the Home Office to end their plans for the Crowborough Training Camp. This is yet another step on this journey. The Camp wasn’t empty or unused, but a functioning and active resource for community and the armed forces across the whole of the South East.
Due to the lack of open and accurate information being shared by the main parties involved, the Home Office and Wealden District Council Leadership, I have requested that a formal inquiry into the Home Offices plans for Crowborough Training Camp, which would also study the effectiveness of Wealden District Council in its role as the lead local planning authority.
I recently requested minutes of meetings between the Home Office and Wealden District Council and worryingly the Council state that no minutes exist for a project that has now been in place for 6 months. None of this is acceptable or professional and local residents want answers on what is going and what is planned over the next few years’.
I am fed up with closed shop style meetings that we aren’t privy to and don’t answer any of the communities concerns or address the impact on local services. To get details, plans and the proposed programme and legal advice, the next logically step is for the Select Committee to study to investigate both the Home Office and Wealden District Council.
