Full Breakdown
Crowborough Residents Continue Protest Over Asylum Seeker Accommodation
7/17/2026, 9:15:50 PM
Core Event
For more than nine months, residents of Crowborough, East Sussex, have held weekly demonstrations against a Home Office plan to locate asylum-seeker accommodation in the town. The protests began after the government announced the use of a local site without prior consultation with the community. Residents say the initiative has created a “David and Goliath” struggle with the Labour-led government, which they accuse of neglecting local concerns.
Resident Concerns & Opposition
Local campaigner Marmaduke Devereaux-Astley argues that the town was excluded from decision-making and that the Home Office’s motives appear “nefarious… duplicitous and downright dishonest.” He adds that the community feels “thrown to the wolves” and must continue fighting for its voice. Another resident, identified only as Garry, expressed personal fear for safety and frustration over public spending, noting that “the amount of money being spent in there while there’s people in this town… they can’t put food on the table.” Both speakers stress that safety and economic strain are central to their opposition.
Council Response
Crowborough Borough Council, while not conceding that it failed to engage, states it has remained “actively involved, seeking further information and clarity on behalf of residents and ensuring local views and concerns are represented.” The council’s official position emphasizes ongoing dialogue with the Home Office rather than a withdrawal of the accommodation plan.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This Government have thrown us to the wolves. No one's going to come and save us, no one's coming to help us.” — Marmaduke Devereaux-Astley
- “He explained: "We've never been consulted, we're still not being consulted, and we feel that the Home Office's intent is nefarious and their tactics are duplicitous and downright dishonest, and I'm putting that diplomatically.” — Marmaduke Devereaux-Astley
- “He said: "I'll tell you now, though, I'm a resident, born and bred, brought up, my kids, grandkids are here, and it was when the news broke at the first meeting that everyone was just turning around looking for an option to actually have a voice.” — Garry
Why It Matters
The dispute highlights tensions between national immigration policy and local authority, raising questions about community consultation, allocation of public funds, and perceived safety impacts. As protests persist, the situation may influence broader debates on how asylum-seeker placements are negotiated with host towns across the United Kingdom.
