Thousands of locals gathered in Crowborough, England on Sunday, 25 January to protest the government\u2019s plan to house more than 500 male migrants in the town\u2019s former military camp. The demonstration was the 12th since the plans were announced in October 2025, with the first batch of asylum seekers arriving last week\u2014sparking anxiety and fear among residents.<\/p>\n
Speaking to GB News, one resident said the community is worried about safety,<\/a> stressing that despite contradictory media coverage and drone footage presented by officials, the camp is located close to the town. \u2018It literally is right on our doorstep,\u2019 he said, adding that the main high street is at most a 20-minute walk away and that schoolchildren pass through the area daily near the site where migrants are being housed.<\/p>\n \u2018We have not slept. It\u2019s awful<\/a>. They have been seen hanging around the town already. I can\u2019t stand it. Already, many people are on about moving,\u2019 protestor Sarah Rogers, a mother of two, told LBC News.<\/p>\n Crowborough Is Only the Beginning<\/p>\n The Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has pledged to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers by the end of the current Parliament. As part of that plan, ministers announced the use of the Crowborough camp and Cameron Barracks in Inverness, Scotland. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said \u2018Crowborough is just the start\u2019, promising to bring forward \u2018site after site\u2019 until asylum hotels are closed.<\/p>\n The Home Office claims more than 400 hotels were opened under the previous government at a cost of \u00a39 million a day, with about 200 still in use, while overall asylum costs have fallen by 15 per cent.<\/p>\n According to the Home Office, migrants will be housed at the Crowborough site for \u2018up to three months each\u2019, before being removed from the country if their claim is rejected. Officials also released pictures and video footage of the camp showing dormitories, a medical centre, shower blocks, dining and leisure areas, as well as interview suites and induction rooms.<\/p>\n \u2018Locals argue that the Home Office ignored community safety concerns when making the decision\u2019<\/p>\n Locals argue that the Home Office ignored community safety concerns when making the decision. A campaign has raised more than \u00a393,000 to fund legal action seeking a Judicial Review of the plan.<\/p>\n