# Crowborough, once among most ‘welcoming towns in Britain,’ is scarred by year of anti-migrant protests

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/crowborough-once-among-most-welcoming-towns-in-britain-is-scarred-by-year-of-anti-migrant-protests/
- Published: 2026-11-08T04:00:13+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T06:18:55+00:00
- Original publisher: Le Monde (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2026/11/08/crowborough-once-among-most-welcoming-towns-in-britain-is-scarred-by-year-of-anti-migrant-protests_6774682_117.html
- Topics: Europe, UK, World

## Key points

- Crowborough’s weekly anti-migrant protests have divided the town for a year.
- Protest numbers have fallen from thousands to around 100.
- The mayor says the dispute has damaged the town’s reputation.

## Summary

Crowborough, a Sussex town once praised for welcoming Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, has been divided by a year of weekly protests against plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby military camp. The dispute has damaged the town’s reputation and strained local relationships, as supporters of the asylum seekers face intimidation and residents debate a decision made with little local consultation.

The town has 22,000 residents, and the camp was intended to accommodate around 500 men while their asylum claims are processed. Protest crowds have fallen from several thousand to about 100, while the Home Office says ending hotel accommodation has saved £1 billion and cut the number of hotels used from 400 to fewer than 160. Local charities provide aid and English classes; the mayor says the unrest has affected shops and she will not seek re-election in 2027.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.