THE first group of migrants have been bussed into a controversial army camp in Crowborough overnight.
Pictures show a 16 seater coach arriving at the camp in the early hours of Thursday morning – despite the outrage of neighbouring residents.
The coach, with a police escort, was driven onto the camp in persistent rain just before 3.30am today.
Local councillor James Partridge confirmed on Wednesday evening he had been contacted by Home Office minister Alex Norris.
A large police presence remains at the camp on Thursday morning.
Wealden Councillor James Partridge announced that they had been told the camp would open last night.
He said: “I’m really sorry to let you know that the Home Office Minister, Alex Norris, that the Home Office have decided to open the Crowborough Army Camp for use as a temporary site for asylum seekers.
“I told the minister that we still strongly feel that’s the wrong decision for all reasons you’ll be familiar with.
“Despite our strong objection, the minister hasn’t listened to any of us.
“The camp is likely to open within the next few days.”
The Home Office confirmed 27 small boat migrants have been moved into the site, with a total of 500 to be moved in over the coming weeks.
Photos show dormitories kitted out for arrivals and communal halls where asylum seekers will receive meals.
The Government has said all asylum seekers will have been screened against policing, criminality and immigration databases and will have completed initial health checks before arriving.
Security staff are on site 24/7 with CCTV and all residents have to sign in and out of the site when they want to leave.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Illegal migration has been placing immense pressure on communities.
“That is why we are removing the incentives that draw illegal migrants to Britain, closing asylum hotels that are blighting communities.
“Crowborough is just the start. I will bring forward site after site until every asylum hotel is closed and returned to local communities.
“I will not rest until order and control to our borders is restored.”
Cllr Partridge said Wealden Council has asked their legal team to see if there is any way they can challenge the decision.
“We know this is a long shot,” he said. “It is very likely the camp will open.
“Whilst we know many people will be angry, frightened and worried about this, we are going to have to find a way to make the best of it and certainly not make matters worse.
“I hope everyone will come together.”
The council will continue to work with police and other authorities, the councillor said.
“This is a message I never wanted to have to give.
“We still believe the decision is wrong, but we do have to make the best of it.”
Signs went up around the camp over the weekend, indicating that the site was about to be opened.
Pictures of trucks delivering generators, refrigeration units and other equipment have also been spotted at the camp in recent days.
Chair of the Crowborough Shield campaign Kim Bailey said the group are hoping to get an injunction following the decision to house migrants at the camp.
In a statement, she said: “We will be considering with our legal team the possibility of obtaining an injunction to prevent occupation (or further occupation) of the site and in any event will be continuing our judicial
review which the Home Secretary has shamefully failed to properly participate in.
“The hopelessly inadequate, dishonest and biased Screening Direction that has had to be issued to support the Home Secretary’s decision, clearly supports our case that this entire scheme is unlawful.
“We intend to continue to pursue the Home Secretary to judgment.”
Kim criticised the Home Office for misrepresenting the position in Crowborough.
“Most incredible of all is the Government’s statement in the Direction that ‘there is no evidence to indicate that asylum seeker accommodation results in a perceived or actual increase in crime, or fear of crime including with regards impacts on the health of people living nearby’.
“This is plainly and simply a lie.
“Crowborough Shield has filed multiple witness statements in its judicial review evidencing such perceptions and fears and describing their impact.”
The Home Office announced two army camps were earmarked for migrants in October, |Crowborough and another in the Scottish Highlands.
Locals in Crowborough began protesting against the plan and have marched every weekend since.
Last Sunday, hundreds of marchers took to the streets again for the 11th time to protest against the Home Office plans.
And thousands of pounds was spent upgrading CCTV in the town after residents raised safety fears.
Councillors in Crowborough, East Sussex agreed to install new cameras at a price of almost £16,000.
It comes after The Sun revealed those housed in the Army camp will get arts and crafts classes.
Jobs have already been advertised for a £32,000-a-year “activity coordinator” who will organise the arty classes and well-being sessions.
There will also be language lessons, sports and cultural events.
The “weekly and monthly calendar of activities” needs to be “inclusive, culturally sensitive and aligned with migrants’ needs and interests”.
Other jobs will include five site managers on up to £60,000 a year, a security team leader on £44,000, and 15 security officers on £35,000.
Critics claimed the Government was “turning the military base into a wellness retreat”.
And Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The British people are sick of this madness.”
