“It’s not a solution moving asylum seekers from hotels to army barracks. Lots of people refer to it as moving the deck chairs around on the Titanic,” says campaigner Kim Bailey.
Kim has become well known in the town of Crowborough in East Sussex – part of a group which is taking Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to court over the issue of where to house asylum seekers.
“We’re not going to be deterred,” says Kim. “She’s going to use us as a message to the rest of the country to say ‘don’t bother challenging me’ and essentially making an example of us. It’s shameful.”
Kim and others set up Crowborough Shield – they’re seeking a judicial review of the processes followed by the home secretary when the decision was taken to turn an army training centre – around a mile from the town – into accommodation for 540 asylum seekers.
She says: “This whole thing that they’re trying to do is to publicly show that they’re doing something. If you put 500–600 men on the edge of a town with nothing to do and no rights to work, it’s a disaster in the making.”
The Home Office won’t confirm the exact number, but it’s thought several dozen asylum seekers have already moved on to the site which up until the end of last year was used by military cadets.
Liberal Democrat councillor James Partridge, who is leader of Wealden District Council, says: “Why is this necessary? Why are citizens having to put their hands in their pockets to sue the government along with the council?
“We’re going to use council taxpayers’ money to sue the government and the government is going to use taxpayers’ money to defend itself. What’s all that about?”
The government has pledged to end the use of expensive hotels to house asylum seekers by 2029 – shifting instead to large scale sites like the Crowborough centre and dispersal accommodation such as houses of multiple occupancy.
In Crowborough town centre we found some empathy for asylum seekers but mostly concern.
Chris Eustace, an 80-year-old retired shop fitter, says: “You’re going to get an instance – it isn’t long before these hot-blooded young men come here and start doing naughty things with young girls. And then you’re going to see civil unrest and the government just doesn’t realise.”
I ask him what evidence he has to make his claim.
He replies: “They’re all coming from impoverished war-torn countries, but they’re bringing with them a different attitude to life.”
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Rita Williams, also aged 80, said: “I’m frightened to go out at night. I live on my own, and you’re more conscious of that sort of thing. Not that I’ve any real reason to doubt it, but it makes you feel under threat.
“I just feel there should have been some sort of discussion about it and I think a lot of people feel that way.”
But another man we spoke to – who didn’t give his name – told us: “There’s people that come to this country for sanctuary and support. And I think we have a proud nation that should be providing that support.”
The government says it’s removing incentives which draw illegal migrants to Britain – part of significant reforms being made to the UK’s asylum system.
The outcome of the legal challenge by Crowborough Shield could have implications for other large sites the government has its eyes on for the housing of asylum seekers.
On Wednesday, the High Court will decide whether there should be a judicial review.
The challenge focuses on the lawfulness of the decision-making process including alleged failures in consultation and transparency.
The Home Office said it wouldn’t comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
