Protests Erupt Over Asylum Seeker Camps at Former Military Bases

Protests have taken place in towns across the United Kingdom as former military bases are repurposed to house asylum seekers, sparking local opposition over safety concerns, resource strain, and the scale of the sites.

In Crowborough, Sussex, residents gathered, many holding banners that read "Crowborough says no." Counter-demonstrators also appeared, displaying signs with messages such as "migrants welcome" and "stronger together." Sussex Police implemented new rules for the protest, organized by the local campaign group 'Crowborough Says No,' including a ban on face coverings.

The demonstrations followed reports of similar local actions in Oxfordshire, where the village of Piddington held a symbolic referendum to declare independence from the UK. This action was a response to government plans to convert a former military base into a camp intended to house 1,256 male asylum seekers. The referendum saw 285 votes in favor of independence and 26 against, though it carries no legal weight.

Residents in Piddington have expressed concerns that the planned number of male migrants would significantly outnumber the village's 350 inhabitants and potentially increase crime risks. Cherwell District Council, the local authority in Oxfordshire, has described the government's plans for the Piddington site as "ambiguous" and posing "avoidable" risks. The council has pointed out missing elements in the government's planning application, such as a proposed site layout, and has raised concerns about wastewater provisions, flooding, ecological impact, access arrangements, and the potential presence of hazardous materials like asbestos or unexploded ordnance.

Piddington parish councillor Mike Nixon previously highlighted the lack of pedestrian access to the site, noting the government's suggestion of issuing asylum seekers with high-visibility jackets for safety while walking along a busy road.

In Crowborough, the former training camp is already in use, housing 350 migrants, with plans to increase its capacity to 540. Demonstrations in the town began after these plans were announced. Liam Tomsett, a father of two and co-founder of 'Crowborough Says No,' initiated rallies after hearing about the proposed use of the camp. Confrontations at the site led to Tomsett's arrest on charges of common assault and possession of an offensive weapon, though the charges were later dropped.

The plans to use the Crowborough camp for housing migrants were first announced by the government in October of the previous year, with confirmation in January, which subsequently triggered the local demonstrations. The scale of the Piddington site, with a planned capacity of 1,256 male asylum seekers, has been a significant point of contention, with locals warning that the number of migrants could nearly quadruple the village's population. The council has criticized the government's application for being a "concept" rather than a fully defined development, stating that "unresolved ambiguity cannot be treated as a neutral factor."