Due to the absence of Green/Lib-Dem/Labour-run Wealden District Council leaders, and their lack of public consultation regarding the proposals for Crowborough Training Camp, Sussex Weald's Conservative MP has secured the presence of Home Office officials at the first community meeting in Crowborough taking place this evening (Monday 10th November).
As a result of the lack of transparency and accountability from Wealden District Council, Nusrat Ghani MP has put pressure on the Home Office to be present at the first official community meeting. Two of the leading Home Office officials will be present to share what has been agreed with Wealden District Council and if the Council have raised any legal challenges.
Nusrat has been talking to councils across the country who have fought legal challenges with the Home Office and at tonight’s meeting, she will be sharing that intelligence with local residents, so that they can put pressure on their District Councillors to prevent or delay asylum seekers being housed in Crowborough.
Also joining the meeting will be neighbouring MP Mims Davies, Crowborough Town Mayor, Cllr Natalie Whittle, and the most recent previous Home Office Minister for Immigration, who can share why the site was rejected before and what legal steps Wealden District Council can take to stand up for local residents and object to the decision, if they wanted to.
The meeting is fully booked, so if you were unable to secure a space and want to receive an update, please sign Nusrat’s petition here: https://www.nusghani.org.uk/NoAsylumHousing.
Nusrat Ghani said: “It has been a full month since Wealden District Council have been in negotiations with the Home Office and we are yet to understand what their plans are. As the local planning authority, only WDC have the power to put in place legal objections such as a JR, a Stop Notice or a Letter Before Action. It is shocking that the WDC leadership have not evidenced any legal action that they will be taking.
"The only explanation as to why WDC have not yet taken any legal action is political, given that the Leadership represents their political views.
Chaos continues at the Council, and they are just failing us as time runs out. I am grateful for local support, and I’m pleased that at the back of me putting pressure on the council, they are now holding a public meeting later this week.
While they were missing in action, I stepped in to convene tonight’s meeting to get answers from the Home Office and advice from former Ministers. WDC leaders and Crowborough councillors are most welcome to join me this evening, and I look forward to them sharing their views to Crowborough residents.
I will continue to do what I can to put pressure on Wealden District Council to fight, not to work with, the Home Office, on behalf of the Crowborough community.”
