Protesters march in Crowborough to oppose decision to use former military site to house migrants until 2030

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER Published: 21:28, 28 June 2026 | Updated: 21:31, 28 June 2026 Protesters have marched in East Sussex today against the decision to use a former military base to house migrants until 2030. Demonstrators gathered outside Crowborough Training Camp, an old army barracks that is currently being used to house small boat migrants. It was announced earlier this week that the site could be used until the end of the decade, despite Home Office officials allegedly giving council leaders 'unequivocal denials' that it would remain open after this year. The protest, which involved families and young children, began at the military site and later moved into the town centre where they were met by a counter demonstration. Dozens of counter protesters held signs which said: 'one world, one love' and 'everyone is our neighbour'. But the demonstration was outnumbered by protesters against the use of the military site who chanted: 'Keir Starmer is a traitor' and 'whose streets, our streets'. The protesters also sang: 'We are all getting poorer, no help for British suffering, but for those across our borders.  'Hospitals at breaking point, mental health at an all-time high. We must all be united. to hear our cries.'  Protesters have gathered in Crowborough today against the use of a former military site to house small boat migrants Locals are outraged after it was announced earlier this week that Crowborough Training Camp could be used until 2030 The protest was led by a silver ford van covered in England flags and signs that said: 'stop the boats' and 'Crowborough says no'  The demonstration was led by a silver Ford van covered in England flags and signs that said: 'stop the boats' and 'Crowborough says no'. The vehicle had an expired MOT date of June 5, some 23 days ago, according to the DVLA website.  Mother Sandra March said that the military site's continued use posed a 'danger to the community.' The 49-year-old said: 'It's a disgrace. It's disgusting. This poses a danger to our community. 'Hundreds of men, unvetted and unaccounted for. They hang around in this town. It's unsettling to women out on their own. It's a diabolical decision. 'Those in charge should hang their heads in shame.' Another demonstrator said: 'People have left the area because of the camp. People don't feel safe. We were told it would not be for longer than a year. Now it's another four years. 'It's shocking. What's the point of paying our council tax? Nobody voted for this.' The vehicle has an expired MOT date of June 5, some 23 days ago, according to the DVLA website Protesters pictured waving flags as protest moved from the former army barracks into the town centre The protest comes after Labour was told to put more migrants 'on a plane home' on June 25 as it announced plans to give asylum seekers taxpayer-funded bed and board at three more former military barracks. Ministers said they had lodged planning permission to turn RAF Barnham in Suffolk, RAF Linton-on-Ouse in Yorkshire and a former Army barracks in Bicester, Oxfordshire, into accommodation for asylum seekers. They also outlined plans to extend and expand the use of existing sites including Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.  Overall, the plans would create close to another 5,000 beds for small boat migrants entering the UK. Previous plans to house up to 1,500 asylum seekers at RAF Linton-on-Ouse were abandoned in 2022 following a protest by nearby households and a legal challenge from the local council. It came as ministers announced the closure of another 20 hotels where migrants were being housed, including the Bell Hotel in Epping. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.