Sussex Weald MP demands action over Crowborough cadet camp

Nusrat Ghani, the Conservative MP for Sussex Weald, has publicly demanded that the new government return the Crowborough Training Camp to its original use as a facility for local cadets and blue-light services.

In a letter addressed to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Nus Ghani expressed deep frustration over the site being "removed as a local community resource". 

Key Details of the Dispute

• The Core Issue: The camp was taken over by the Home Office to serve as temporary asylum accommodation for roughly 600 male asylum seekers, forcing local army and air cadets off the site. 
• Proposed Extension: While the initial agreement was meant for a fixed 12-month period, the Home Office proposed extending the camp’s use as asylum accommodation until 2030. 
• Lack of Consultation: Nus Ghani has repeatedly lambasted the government for treating local residents with "contempt" by refusing to conduct meaningful local consultations or share transparent operational plans. 

Current Action and Ongoing Campaigns

• Letter to the Health Secretary: Published openly to ensure transparency, Ghani's letter outlines that the ongoing situation is "deeply unfair" to constituents who feel completely ignored by Westminster.
• Alternative Cadet Sites: Following intense campaigning and meetings with Ministry of Defence ministers, Nus Ghani previously secured temporary alternative training venues so cadet exercises and parades could continue. 
• Legal and Parliamentary Challenges: A local community group called Crowborough Shield launched a High Court Judicial Review challenging the Home Office's use of the site, which was heard in late July. Concurrently, the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee has intervened to investigate how the decision-making process was handled.

Nus Ghani continues to press for an urgent face-to-face meeting with ministers to reverse the decision and restore the resource to Crowborough.