Wealden Green Councillors Press Legal Challenge to Asylum Barracks

(WEALDEN DISTRICT, EAST SUSSEX, ENGLAND) Local Green councillors in the Wealden District voted late on November 10, 2025 to take legal action against the Home Office plan to place up to 600 male asylum seekers at the Crowborough Training Camp, a Ministry of Defence site on Crown Land. The move marked a sharp reversal from earlier in the day, when members had been advised by a King’s Counsel not to pursue a case. Within roughly three hours, the ruling Alliance for Wealden group of Green and Liberal Democrat councillors shifted course and confirmed they would seek a court challenge, citing concerns over process and local impact.

Local pressure and council response

The decision follows weeks of local pressure over the proposed use of the Crowborough Training Camp for asylum accommodation. Residents had pressed the council to act, while local campaigners questioned why there was no earlier formal objection.

Critics said the council’s response had appeared slow and uncoordinated, with patchy communication both inside the council and with the public. They argued that the lack of a clear early stance left the authority reacting to events, rather than shaping them, even as the plan for mass accommodation gathered pace.

Key figures and political context

Deputy council leader Rachel Millward, who also serves as deputy leader of the Green Party, emerged as a central figure in the debate. Her position drew particular scrutiny because the Green-led authority has endorsed a welcoming posture toward newcomers, backing efforts that include designating East Sussex as a “County of Sanctuary for Migrants.”

• Supporters say the pledge and the legal challenge are not in conflict, arguing that standing up for fair process and community readiness aligns with humane treatment.
• Opponents charge that pausing the plan sends mixed signals and risks undercutting those who need shelter.

The Alliance for Wealden coalition must balance expectations from residents who want a swift halt to the plan, while remaining consistent with pro-migrant values held by many in the district.

Legal and procedural issues

At issue is whether the Home Office can proceed on an urgent basis with large-scale accommodation at a military camp, and what role the local authority can play when the site sits on Crown Land.

• Councillors received early advice suggesting a weak legal case, but momentum shifted during the November 10 session after internal debate and sustained criticism of the council’s handling to date.
• Members said the authority needed to assert itself on behalf of the district and seek fuller answers on safety, services, and consultation before any transfers of people occur to the Crowborough Training Camp.
• The council did not spell out the exact legal grounds they might use but said they intended to act quickly given the timeframe for potential transfers.

“The legal move is about process and local readiness, not opposition to people seeking safety,” council figures said — stressing that clear rules and communication help both arrivals and the host community.

Practical concerns raised by officials and residents

Officials and residents in Wealden District focused on a set of practical questions relating to the proposed transfers:

• How will basic services scale for several hundred men transferred at once? (Transport, primary care, community support)
• What security and safeguarding measures will be in place at the Crowborough Training Camp?
• To what extent will the normal planning process be set aside because the location is a Ministry of Defence site?

These issues informed the council’s stated reasons for seeking fuller answers before any transfers take place.

National policy backdrop and comparable disputes

The Home Office aims to reduce hotel use across England by turning to larger, state-controlled sites. In other areas, that shift has sparked disputes over:

• planning powers,
• emergency measures, and
• the knock-on effect for health and local services.

VisaVerge.com reports that councils such as Broxbourne Borough Council have also pursued legal steps over asylum hotels, citing a lack of consultation and added strain on local resources. Wealden’s decision to go to court places it among a growing group of local authorities seeking a stronger say in where and how large facilities are set up.

For general policy information, see the official Home Office page on asylum support: https://www.gov.uk/asylum-support

Symbolism and local reaction

The choice of Crowborough Training Camp carries strong symbolism for a district with a deep military footprint.

• Supporters of the plan say the site offers space and security.
• Opponents highlight the scale of the proposal and the camp’s proximity to established neighborhoods.

In private briefings, councillors heard concerns about whether the district had been given enough notice and how the projected 600 intake was determined. Critics say such questions should have been pressed earlier and more forcefully, rather than at the eleventh hour.

Political dynamics and next steps

The pace of events drew as much attention as the policy dispute itself. Councillors were told earlier on Monday that legal action might fail, only to regroup and approve a challenge the same evening.

• Some described the turnaround as a show of resolve.
• Others saw it as evidence of a reactive, last-minute approach after weeks of perceived drift.
• Several members urged clearer updates to residents in and around Crowborough, resurfacing grievances about information sharing.

For now, the legal action signals a new phase. Court filings would likely focus on whether the Home Office followed required consultation steps and respected the local authority’s role in planning and public health readiness — themes that have surfaced in other districts.

Financial and procedural risks

The council is also bracing for potential costs, which several members flagged during the meeting. They argued that the price of inaction could be higher if the district’s voice goes unheard.

Possible outcomes in the coming weeks include:

1. The case proceeding to a full hearing.
2. The legal challenge prompting new talks with the Home Office.
3. Negotiated adjustments to the plan addressing local concerns.

Whether the case proceeds to a hearing or sparks fresh negotiations, the coming weeks will show how far Wealden can shape the outcome at the Crowborough Training Camp.