Crowborough Training Camp.

Wealden District Council was informed on October 10^th 2025 that the Home Office intended to use the Crowborough Training Camp (which is an MOD site and thus “Crown Land”) for the purpose of asylum seeker accommodation.

A letter was sent to Mike Tapp, the current Minister for Migration and Citizenship on October 22^nd. Interestingly, this is a example of the chaotic and inefficient way Wealden has approached this debacle; the Council Leader Councillor Partridge wrote to the wrong minister. The appropriate minister would have been Alex Norris who is the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum. It’s no wonder it was ineffective – they wrote to the wrong person.

The tone of the letter appears to focus on service provision, the letter says:

“We are therefore writing to set out our concerns, confirm our understanding of the proposals, and to ensure that we and all local partners are fully consulted as plans emerge”

“ We” referred to in this letter related to Wealden District Council. However, at this point, no communication had been made to the wider elected membership of Wealden; not to the opposition at least. It is important to note that Wealden is run by an Administration comprising Green Party, Liberal Democrats and Labour. No communication was made outside this group. The letter seems more concerned with procedure and there is little evidence (if anything at all) of any effort to object or challenge the Home Office intention. The letter ends with:

“We recognise that the Home Office is not seeking our permission to use the Camp for this purpose, but we are keen to work with you to ensure your plans are as effective as possible and the impact on the community is carefully managed. We welcomed the opportunity for our officers to meet with your operational teams and hope this partnership working can continue.”

On Tuesday October 28^th and news broke in the press that Crowborough Army Camp was intended to be used to house 600 migrants. Wealden Councillors were invited to an “urgent” meeting that morning where the Leadership of Wealden informed those who were on the call about what they had been told eighteen days earlier. 18 days of no communication with the wider member body – people elected to look after your interests and make representations on your behalf. It emerged that day that Nusrat Ghani, the MP for Sussex Weald had also been kept in the dark about the intended use of the camp. A camp within walking distance to the centre of one of the largest towns in the constituency. Along with the public, she was rightly angry and looking for answers. That same day, Wealden put up a website with some further information; information they had in their possession for 18 days.

On Wednesday 29^th October an urgent question was raised on the floor of the House of Commons regarding the use of Crowborough Training Camp along with Cameron Barracks in Inverness to house asylum seekers. Thankfully, the Home Office sent the correct Minister to answer those questions. Contributions were made from 2 MP’s in Sussex, Mims Davies (Uckfield and East Grinsted) and Kieren Mullen (Bexhill and Battle). Nus Ghani, as Deputy Speaker is prohibited from engaging in debates on the floor.

Nusrat Ghani released information on Friday evening that she had been informed by the Home Office that Wealden would be given money - over £1000 - for each asylum seeker in the camp. However, there is no requirement for this money which feels like a bribe to be spent in the local community.

What should Wealden do?

In every single case where large concentrations of asylum seekers have been proposed, it is the Local District or Borough Council that has fought on behalf of residents. There is complexity as the Home Office is attempting to use Crown Powers under the General Permitted Development Order 2015. Does this mean that nothing can be done? Not in my view. “Not my fault gov” is buck passing.

There are potential avenues that we need to explore as a community. At this point, I am not aware they have mounted any form of credible challenge. Wealden needs to outline the avenues they have explored and potentially discounted. I would also like to see strong representations made about the open camp policy. “If” the camp is used – occupants should be confined to the camp unable to wander the streets of Crowborough and Wealden. It needs to be a closed facility. I don’t see a political will to challenge the use of the Camp. This is just not good enough.

Why have the Leadership not objected with force?

As I stated above, the Leadership comprises Green Party, Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors. The Green Party are the dominant force within the Alliance, ideologically driven and their stated policies are not conducive to objecting to the camp’s use. Indeed, the UK would be flooded with migrants if they were ever to gain more than the handful of MP’s they have. I believe Rachel Millward, being the Deputy Leader of the National Green Party of England and Wales is conflicted.

Their policy book includes the following:

· The Green Party wants to see a world without borders, until this happens the Green Party will implement a fair and humane system of managed immigration where people can move if they wish to do so.

· The Green Party believes that migration is not a criminal offence under any circumstances (i.e. there is no distinction between legal and illegal migration).

· The Green Party is opposed to forced migration and forced repatriation unless standard exclusions apply.

· The Green Party seeks to establish a system that recognises that all migrants are treated as citizens in waiting and therefore supports and encourages them to put down roots in their new home.

· Undocumented migrants will be given free advice and support to help them to regularise their status without penalty for being undocumented.

Is this formal policy list compatible with a willingness to challenge the Home Office desire to use the camp in Crowborough for one of the largest concentrations of illegal male entrants to the UK and all of the potential issues that brings for Crowborough and more widely, Wealden and the UK ?I think it’s madness.

More recently, the wider Green Group at East Sussex County Council attempted to “designate East Sussex as a County of Sanctuary” for migrants – even suggesting the County Council sign up to an organisation called the “Migrant Champions network” – an organisation that advocates against data sharing with the Home Office. The Green Party attempt was rightly voted down.

So in summary:

WDC have been aware of the government position since October 10th

· The Wealden Alliance briefed their own councillors significantly in advance of opposition councillors.

· These councillors kept in the dark while Green & Lib Dem Crowborough Councillors were briefed

· There is no evidence that key cabinet members have visited the site

· They’ve attempted to pass the buck claiming no agency in this process when they are clearly the lead stakeholder and the planning authority (It’s their District!!!)

· WDC have as far as we are aware taken no external legal advice

· WDC have known about government funds according to the Home Office and not shared this with their councillors or the public

· WDC’s very limited communications have been lame and the letters were sent to the wrong Minister

· Their pre-occupations seem to subordinate the welfare of local people to that of the illegal migrants (clearly there is a balance to be found here)

· An apparent ideological predisposition to accommodating large numbers of asylum seekers in the community

WDC has not reached for or considered any of the tools used by other District Councils put in a similar position:

Judicial Review

Stop Order

Request for lower camp numbers

Request for a closed as opposed to an open processing facility

Raised concerns related to illegal migrants absconding

Made specific and material demands to support the welfare of our impacted community

What the Council needs to do now is work together for the best outcome for our residents. With our M.P.s and the County Council we need to stop this madness.

Wealden Council Spending a lot of your money.

Wealden Council are currently spending millions of your money on a range of pet projects. Some of these are quite good for local communities, some pander to Green Party objectives and some have been called bribes for voters.

Wealden was for many years well run by the Conservatives who built up reserves to be spent on future infrastructure projects. Wealden are now wasting some of that. We could all have had a Council Tax cut which would have benefitted everyone and our local economy.

A reminder on Waste.

From November 24^th, residents will need to book a time slot for a visit to a household waste site. You can do a HWRS booking on the East Sussex website,

This is a policy with which I strongly disagree but my views were not accepted.

Roy Galley

November 4^th 2025.

Roy Galley.cllr.roy.galley@eastsussex.gov.uk

01825 713018