Crowborough Town Council approves £16,000 CCTV upgrade amid plans to house 540 migrants at local army camp, sparking protests and legal challenges
CCTV Upgrade Approved in Crowborough Amid Migrant Concerns
Thousands of pounds will be spent upgrading CCTV in Crowborough, East Sussex. This decision comes after residents expressed safety concerns about housing hundreds of migrants in the area.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| CCTV Upgrade | £16,000 |
| Annual Maintenance | £2,471 |
| Crowdfunded Legal Fees | £87,000 |
Councillors have agreed to install new cameras at a cost of almost £16,000. More than 1,000 protesters marched against the asylum seekers camp in Crowborough. The council also suggested improving CCTV coverage on the High Street and outside schools.
The maintenance of the security system will cost an additional £2,471 per year. This will be funded using the Town Council’s emergency reserves. The local authority plans to recover these costs from the Government.
Minutes from an Extraordinary council meeting in December state: “Resolved to upgrade the public facing CCTV cameras.” The Town Council will seek reimbursement from the Home Office and Wealden District Council. The Police will provide regular reports on the CCTV’s performance.
A member of the public suggested reassessing existing CCTV and adding cameras around the Army Camp. The council resolved to upgrade the cameras, which were turned off in 2024, on a three-year contract.
This decision follows the announcement that the military training ground will be used to accommodate 540 small boat migrants. Residents have protested against these plans for nine consecutive weekends. Around 1,000 people protested again on Sunday.
Kim Bailey, director of Crowborough Shield, accused the Home Office of ignoring local concerns. She stated, “They aren’t listening so we will continue to exercise our democratic right to protest to ensure we are heard. We are not backing down.”
The residents’ group plans to challenge the Home Office in a judicial review. They have raised over £87,000 for legal fees. Wealden District Council joined the legal bid last month and has urged the Home Office to cover the CCTV costs.
A spokeswoman said, “The council is doing all it can to oppose the Home Office’s decision to house asylum seekers at the Crowborough Army Camp. If the Home Office goes ahead, they should fully fund the cost of any CCTV and other measures needed for community safety.”
Crowborough is set to house 540 migrants in a local army camp.
