The MP for Sussex Weald has welcomed a delay in the Home Office’s plans to use Crowborough Army Camp for asylum seeker accommodation.
Nusrat Ghani announced on Monday, December 1: “After 50 days of persistent forensic questioning and campaigning against the Home Office and Wealden District Council (WDC), we have secured a much-needed delay on the site being operational.”
A WDC spokesperson said: “The Home Office continue to undertake its feasibility assessment on the use of the site and have confirmed to us that no decision has yet been made.”
The Home Office had announced in October that the site was set to house up to 540 single male adults from the end of November for up to 12 months.
But WDC wrote to the Home Office Minister to object to the plans and announced the council was seeking advice on legal options to challenge the decision.
WDC also started posting updates about the proposal at www.wealden.gov.uk/crowborough-army-camp and, in a November 19 update, WDC said it had passed a motion at Full Council to oppose the plan.
The council said it would oppose the plan ‘provided that this is done lawfully and with due and full regard to the potential cost and risk to the council of any action which might be taken’. WDC said: “The motion also called on active participation and collaboration of partner organisations to join Wealden District Council in opposing the plans.”
Ms Ghani had previously held two community meetings on November 10, with more than 500 residents attending to hear from Home Office officials and Wealden District Council.
While announcing the delay to the Crowborough Army Camp plans, the MP said: “This is progress, and a small win for every Crowborough resident who has joined me via my petition and in directly challenging the Home Office and Wealden District Council with emails and letters.”
But she said the Home Office’s plans had only been ‘disrupted’ by ‘the difficult and uncomfortable challenges we have raised’. She said: “The pressure that the community and I keep putting on the Home Office is working and we cannot take out foot off the pedal. We have to keep going and demand transparency, accountability and honesty.”
The MP added: “I’m pleased to have also has also secured progress for our Crowborough Cadets. During my meeting this afternoon (December 1) with Defence Minister Luke Pollard MP and five of his Cadet Advisers, it was confirmed that Crowborough Cadets will not be accessing the site from next week, and a new site will be secured for them.”
The MP has started a petition at www.nusghani.org.uk/NoAsylumHousing.
Protestors have also held demonstrations against the plan in Crowborough town centre.
The Home Office and Wealden District Council have been approached for comment.
The original article is available here.
