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Crowborough, once among most ‘welcoming towns in Britain,’ is scarred by year of anti-migrant protests
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.
In short
- 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.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the camp plan can argue that temporary accommodation near Crowborough would help process asylum claims while reducing reliance on costly hotels, which the Home Office says has saved public money. They may see offering basic support to people seeking refuge as a humanitarian duty, and point to local charities’ aid and English classes as ways to help residents and newcomers live alongside one another.
The case against
Critics can argue that placing around 500 people at a former military camp without meaningful local consultation risks putting pressure on services and communities that have little say in the decision. They may also question whether the site is suitable for people awaiting decisions on their claims, and regard the damage to local relationships and the town’s economy as evidence that the plan’s local costs deserve greater weight.