Fury as 1,250 migrants threaten to TREBLE population of quiet UK village | UK | News
Angry rural residents are mobilizing against a controversial Government directive to build a massive refugee facility in their small rural community. The Home Office last month announced plans to repurpose the former RAF Barnham on the Suffolk-Norfolk border as accommodation for single male migrants. The move forms part of the Government’s initiative to close all asylum hotels by 2029.
The plan has sparked outrage in the sleepy village of Barnham, home to just 580 people and known for its postcard-perfect thatched cottages. There isn’t even a local bar or store in the community. Locals warn that the sudden arrival of more than twice their number of young men will triple the population overnight, overwhelming the region and changing its character forever.
Fears are growing about possible increases in antisocial behaviour, risks to women and children and a collapse in property values.
Callum Banthorpe, 23, who bought his first home in the village for £180,000 in January, said: Great Britain News: “We do not have the infrastructure here for a sudden influx of 1,250 people.”
He added that he might have reconsidered the purchase if he had known about the plans: “If I wanted to put a shed in my garden I’d probably need planning permission, although it looks like the Government could force over a thousand people to move if they wanted to.”
Residents say they were given no meaningful consultation and only learned of the plan when it became clear the wheels were already in motion. An anonymous local asked bluntly: “Who would want to live next to a camp with hundreds of young men?”
Business owners are sharing the alarm. Rocky, a ground worker for PRD Groundworks, which is located directly opposite the base, expressed particular concern about nearby schools, saying: “It’s on the doorstep of local schools and I’m concerned about children being put in danger.”
He stated that residents would not be properly vetted and pointed out official contradictions: The site had previously been judged unsuitable for development due to soil contamination.
Tension turned into action. There have already been two large-scale protests on Sunday, with around 500 demonstrators gathering at the camp’s main gates. Protesters, many waving the Union Jack and British flags, traveled as far as Essex. Some maintained a permanent presence outside the entrance, hanging flags and signs on surrounding fences.
Suffolk County Council Reform leader Michael Hadwen told an earlier rally that the plan was “completely unacceptable” for a small village with a small rural primary school. West Suffolk Council voted unanimously against the proposal last week, citing safety risks, pressure on services and lack of facilities. A spokesman confirmed the Government could bypass local planning processes by approving the scheme.
John Bauer, chairman of Barnham District Council, highlighted the double standards: “If this were a conventional housing project for 1,250 people it would require extensive consultation, transport assessment, environmental review and infrastructure planning.” Councilors expressed disappointment at the Home Office’s failure to communicate, describing it as disrespectful.
