𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Government has been warned that things could turn nasty between protesters and the police after a legal challenge to the housing of up to 500 migrants at a former military base on the edge of a little UK town was rejected. Residents’ group, Crowborough Shield, sought a judicial review into the Home Office’s decision, funded by more than £100,000 in local donations, and thousands of protesters marched in the town against the policy. The Honourable Mr Justice Mould KC said locals had “jumped the gun” on their application.

Cabin crew member Ross Levitt, 41, has lived in the town for a decade. He said he was “devastated”, and that protests will keep happening as residents like him want to make sure their “voice is heard”. He insisted locals have so far not been violent, but added: “It’s a ticking time bomb, Crowborough.

“It’s a tinder box. One thing happens here, and this town is going to erupt.” Asked if things could get nasty, the airline worker said: “Yes, it will do. Unfortunately. As with everything, there’s always the few idiots that are about that will cause that, or people will come in from other towns.”

Ian Brigden, 79, a retired designer and developer of audio and TV products has lived in Crowborough for 50 years. He said: “If something happens from one of those coming out of the camp in this area, then yes, it may very well turn nasty.” “We don’t know who they are, what they are,” the local added.

Mr Levitt will not let his 12-year-old son go out as long as migrants are housed nearby.

“That just stops his growing up and enjoying his childhood,” he said.

“I get why they’re coming, if they’re coming from a war-torn country.

“But they’ve gone through many safe countries to get here.”

“My mum and dad would be turning in their graves,” Rosemary Hunnisett, 75, who used to work in a factory, a pub and as a cleaner, said.

The resident of neighbouring Upfield added that she “can’t stand” Sir Keir Starmer, and that Friday’s ruling shows the authorities “don’t give a damn about ordinary people”.

The migrants “should have been turned around straight away”, the pensioner added.

Mr Bridgen said: “I don’t know how they’re going to integrate five or six hundred people here.

“They can’t. I mean, it’s an appalling extra amount of people into the area.

“It takes up the dentists, it takes up the doctors.”

The resident is frustrated with the competence of Britain’s leaders today.

Mr Brigden said: “I think this country unfortunately has got to a point where it is very unruleable.

“I mean it just doesn’t have the quality of people at the top there – the intellectuals that we used to have.”

Locals fear the camp will put people off the area and negatively affect businesses.

“I think this will be dead,” Mr Levitt said.

Mr Bigden said the situation will “ruin” Crowborough.

“It’s already going down and this will just add to it,” he added.

“People that want to buy houses in the southeast will say, ‘Oh no, Crowborough. I don’t want to go there.’

“Without even knowing the place, and so I think the whole thing is appalling, really.”

“It’s just been pushed upon us without any proper consideration and that’s really what’s so undemocratic about the whole thing.”

Lindsey Pearson, 55, the managing director of a publishing company who has lived in Crowborough for 35 years, has noticed a heightened police presence in the town, which can be “a bit unnerving”.

She said: “I think it’s one of those situations where nobody wants in their back garden, do they?

“I think the problem needs to be addressed the other side of the channel.

“I think we need to get people over there and stop them coming over, because the French don’t want them in their in their country and they’re not stopping them.”

Britain is “too soft”, she suggested.

“That’s why people from all over the world want to come to the UK.”

The ruling is “disappointing”, Ms Pearson said, but she is not surprised, as she believes “the decision was already made”.

Mr Justice Mould added that after the Home Office had made its decision to put migrants in the camp in January, the legal claim “should have been discontinued”. The judge said he could “form no real understanding as to why it was not done”.

The first group of 27 male asylum seekers was moved into Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex on the night of January 21–22. The former military base began housing individuals to reduce reliance on hotels, the Government said, and it has a capacity of 500 people.

Liam Tomsett, 44, lives in a neighbouring town and is the co-leader of the Crowborough Says No group. He told The Express that the next protest will take place on Sunday at 10.30am.

After the ruling, Mr Tomsett said: “I’m disappointed but not surprised. The establishment has cheated the public once again.

“I think it’s time to step it up. More people will come out initially [following the ruling] then it will be back to the core number of about 2,000.”

He described his community as “very well behaved” and “very commendable”, adding: “There hasn’t been any agro in 14 weeks. I don’t see why that would happen now.”

“It feels like democracy’s over with this Labour government,” Mr Tomsett added.

“No one voted for this. When it comes to democracy, whether you like it or not, you should listen to the majority of people. It’s a crazy situation where we’re seeing people breaking into the country. Can you imagine the other way round? Can you imagine going to France without your passport?”

He is “not against migration”, the campaigner emphasised. “I think it’s really important,” Mr Tomsett said. “But it has to be done in right controlled manner. You can’t just have a free for all. If I go to Spain, I’d learn Spanish and eat tapas and assimilate with the locals.”

Crowborough Shield said it planned to relaunch its claim after the judge spoke on Friday. Mr Tomsett wished the organisation “all the best”.

“They’ve given up a quarter of their year for this cause, and for that the community is very grateful,” he added.

Crowborough Shield has said it plans to relaunch its claim.

A Home Office spokesperson said it welcomed the court’s decision, the BBC reported.

Three people were arrested following two incidents of disorder outside the camp in January.

Sussex Police said the arrests followed two incidents at the entrance to the East Sussex camp on Friday, January 23.

A force spokesman said: “The gathering was initially peaceful, however when a vehicle was leaving the site, three individuals were threatening and intimidatory.

“The individuals caused an obstruction, shouted abuse and struck the vehicle, alarming the driver and passengers.”