Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward has defended her decision to object to government plans to house 600 asylum seekers at a disused army camp in her local area, saying the move poses “serious risks” to both the community and the people being accommodated.
Ms Millward, who represents Hartfield on Wealden District Council in East Sussex, wrote to Home Office minister Mike Tapp outlining concerns about the decision to use Crowborough Army Camp as temporary accommodation for migrants.
The government’s plans are part of a wider policy to move asylum seekers out of costly hotel accommodation and into larger, repurposed sites.
🏠 Concerns over strain on local services
In her letter, co-signed by fellow councillor James Partridge, Ms Millward said the local council had not been properly consulted about the decision and warned that accommodating such a large number of people in one location could put “significant strain” on local services.
“We had concerns about staffing resources at the camp, about police provision and about the additional strain on already over-stretched public services,” she wrote.
The letter also warned of “significant risks” associated with housing 600 men “on one site with no right to work,” arguing that the arrangement could make integration harder and increase tensions.
Ms Millward said the way the plans were leaked to the media had “resulted in an increase in community tensions” and even “threats to the personal wellbeing of council leadership.”
It has been astonishing to experience first hand how badly the Home Office mismanages asylum seeker accommodation. Wealden District Council has written to the Minister to make clear our dissatisfaction. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/fCj2ZbKpcp
The Green councillor’s letter concluded by calling on the government to “reverse” the decision, arguing that it had been made “without consultation, local preparation, or adequate resources.”
She said the move reflected “a total failure” of coordination between central and local government.
Local Conservative MP Nus Ghani and other politicians in the region have also voiced frustration over a lack of transparency, saying councils were not adequately informed before plans were made public.
Conservative MP Nus Ghani.
🌍 Political reaction and public criticism
The letter drew criticism from several political commentators and rival politicians who accused Ms Millward of hypocrisy, given her past support for refugee rights.
Katie Lam, Conservative MP for Weald of Kent, told GB News:
“They want to welcome people, but not where they live.”
Reform UK councillor George Madgwick called the stance “a contradiction,” while commentator Chris Rose described the move as “baffling.”
However, Ms Millward defended her position, saying her objection was about how the government was handling the issue, not about opposing asylum seekers themselves.
🗣️ Millward responds: “We need integration, not isolation”
In a video posted on social media after the backlash, Ms Millward said her stance had been misrepresented.
“Asylum seekers must be given the right to work, to contribute their skills, and to integrate safely into our society,” she said outside the Crowborough site.
She added that large, isolated facilities risked undermining integration and community safety, calling instead for smaller-scale, better-managed accommodation.
“Unlike Labour, we’re not going to follow Farage or blame immigrants. It’s time to celebrate immigration, not demonise it,” she added.
Asylum Seekers must be given the right to work – to contribute their skills, and their tax! And to be much more safely integrated into our society. pic.twitter.com/juMvXglwce
The controversy highlights the challenge faced by local leaders as the government seeks cheaper and faster ways to house asylum seekers while addressing public concerns about transparency, local resources, and community cohesion.
Ms Millward, who has previously spoken in favour of welcoming refugees, insists her criticism of the Crowborough plan reflects a desire for “fair, safe, and sustainable” solutions that work for both migrants and residents.
Joe Connor is a UK-based reporter specialising in politics, public policy, and national affairs. He has previously contributed to publications including The London Economic (JOE Media Group) and Spotted News.
At The Daily Britain, he covers Westminster politics, elections, and breaking political developments, alongside in-depth analysis of policy decisions and their real-world impact.
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