Outraged Brits have slammed the government for “turning a military base into a wellness retreat” for asylum seekers, complete with art classes, sports and a dedicated “activity coordinator” on a cushy £32,000 salary.
The shocking revelations about the soft regime planned for 600 migrants at the Army camp in Crowborough, East Sussex, emerged as thousands of furious locals took to the streets for the third week running to protest the controversial accommodation plans.
Taxpayers will be footing the bill for a range of lavish perks for the asylum seekers, including well-being sessions, language lessons, cultural events and a jam-packed “weekly and monthly calendar of activities” designed to be “inclusive, culturally sensitive and aligned with migrants’ needs and interests”.
The cushy camp will also boast five site managers raking in up to £60,000 a year, a security team leader on a cool £44,000, and 15 security officers pocketing £35,000 each.
‘The British people are sick of this madness’
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp slammed the government’s priorities, fuming: “The British people are sick of this madness.”
“Families are struggling with the cost of living. The taxpayers footing the bill are told there’s no money for local policing or housing. But somehow there’s always room in the budget for activities for those who broke into Britain,” he raged.
Thousands brave rain to protest ‘undocumented’ men
The latest demo in the usually sleepy town saw 600 protesters carrying numbered cards – one for each asylum seeker due to descend on the area from the end of this month.
Organisers estimate up to 3,000 people braved the pouring rain to voice their anger over the plans yesterday, with many expressing fears for the safety of local women and children.
Office administrator Penny Saunders, 58, insisted: “This is about community and the fact these men will be undocumented. It’s about safety — it’s not about racism.”
Rape alarms handed out as tensions soar
In an alarming sign of the rising tensions, police were spotted handing out rape alarms to women in the town – though they claimed it was unconnected to the looming influx of male migrants.
Campaign group Crowborough Shield questioned the move, with chair Kim Bailey asking: “If everything is ‘safe, legal and compliant’, why do women in a sleepy little town like Crowborough need rape alarms?”
Future of cadet detachments in doubt
In a shocking twist, the controversial plans to house asylum seekers at the Crowborough Army base have now put the future of several cadet detachments based at the site in jeopardy.
Serious concerns have been raised about the safety of the young soldiers if the migrants are relocated to the base, with reports revealing that at least 200 residents in asylum seeker hotels had been charged with various criminal offences, including sexual assaults, up to August this year.
Adult cadet instructors are now considering suspending training altogether, saying they don’t believe they can ensure the proper safeguarding of cadets once the migrants arrive.
‘This isn’t compassion, it’s chaos’
Local councillor Andrew Wilson blasted the government’s approach, saying: “This isn’t compassion, it’s chaos.”
“Local people are struggling with the cost of living, our public services are stretched to breaking point, and yet taxpayers are being asked to fund leisure activities for people who arrived here illegally,” he fumed.
Crowborough Shield has launched a legal fight against the plans, instructing lawyers to represent them in judicial review proceedings after raising £40,000 through donations and crowdfunding.
Meanwhile, vandals have targeted the Army base in recent days, going on a window-smashing spree as tensions reached boiling point. Police confirmed they were investigating the incident.
Migrant charity seeks volunteers amid clampdown
As the row rages on, migrant charity Care4Calais is recruiting volunteers to support refugees at the controversial site.
The Home Office insisted it was working to cut down the number of illegal migrants being put up in hotels at taxpayers’ expense, but critics argue the ‘wellness retreat’ approach at Crowborough sends the wrong message.
With the first asylum seekers set to arrive with as little as 48 hours’ notice, furious residents have vowed to keep up their vocal opposition until the plans are scrapped.
