Barnham residents to decide next steps in RAF asylum accommodation campaign
Residents in a Suffolk village are meeting today (Saturday 24 October) to discuss their next steps
Residents in a Suffolk village are meeting today (Saturday 24 October) to decide how to take forward their campaign against plans to house asylum seekers at a former RAF base, amid questions over the site's condition and capacity.
The public meeting in Barnham, near Thetford, begins at 2pm, with villagers invited to consider a number of options for challenging the government's proposals.
One possibility is holding a symbolic referendum on whether Barnham should declare independence from the United Kingdom, following a similar campaign in Piddington, Oxfordshire.
However, parish councillors have differing views on the idea, and no decision has been made to hold a vote.
Barnham Parish Council chairman John Bauer said he hopes as many residents as possible will attend.
"We've got the village meeting on the 24th at 2pm and we're hoping to get as big a turnout as possible," he said.
"And we will put a number of options to the village."
Concerns over RAF Barnham's capacity
The meeting follows a visit to RAF Barnham by local representatives, including Mr Bauer and members of West Suffolk Council, alongside Home Office officials.
During the visit, representatives were told the former military base currently has just 320 bed spaces, despite an earlier proposal indicating it could accommodate around 1,250 asylum seekers.
That would leave a shortfall of approximately 930 places, although the Home Office has not confirmed how many people might ultimately be housed at the site.
Mr Bauer raised questions about the scale of work required to make the accommodation suitable.
"They've only got 320 bed spaces, according to what the Home Office told us," he said.
"Where will they find the additional 900-odd if they're going to put the 1,250 there?"
He also described the condition of the former barracks, which have been unused for several years.
"The barracks were dusty, dirty and some of the walls were peeling," he said.
"I wouldn't go as far as to say derelict, but it was definitely unloved."
Representatives were also told some preparatory work could be undertaken "at risk" before the government reaches a final decision on whether to use the site.
That raises the possibility of public money being spent before the proposal receives approval, although no such expenditure has been confirmed.
The Home Office says activity at RAF Barnham is part of routine feasibility assessments, which could take several months and do not determine whether the site will eventually be used.
Should Barnham hold an independence referendum?
The meeting comes after representatives from Barnham visited Piddington, where residents held a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK to draw attention to their opposition to asylum accommodation at a former military site.
Mr Bauer believes Barnham could attract similar national attention by following that example.
However, he acknowledged that not all parish councillors support the approach.
"Some of my colleagues are a little less enthusiastic and so we will present to them all of the options including a symbolic referendum to secede from the United Kingdom," he said.
One concern is that such a move could overshadow other objections to the proposed development.
"There is a concern, I think, that it would dilute other aspects of the campaign, that the environmental considerations might get lost in the noise," Mr Bauer explained.
West Suffolk Council has opposed the proposed use of RAF Barnham, raising concerns about the site's suitability and its location within an environmentally protected area.
The council argues that legally binding protections for habitats and wildlife, including rare birds such as the stone curlew, could prevent the development from proceeding.
No referendum taking place today
Despite the discussion surrounding a possible independence vote, Mr Bauer stressed that Saturday's meeting will not include a referendum.
"On the 24th, there will be the village meeting where we will present the options," he said.
"However, we're not going to have a referendum there and then.
"It needs to be done in a careful, controlled way."
He explained that any symbolic referendum would need to be organised independently of the parish council and would have no legal power to remove Barnham from the UK.
If residents supported the idea, organisers could consider using ballot papers, a polling station and an appointed returning officer.
However, Mr Bauer emphasised those arrangements remain hypothetical.
"We will go with the decision of the village," he said.
"I've maintained all along that everything that we do should be done democratically."
What happens if residents reject the idea?
Mr Bauer said the campaign against the proposed use of RAF Barnham would continue regardless of whether villagers supported a symbolic referendum.
Other options could include further public campaigning, social media activity and engagement with politicians.
He also believes the impact of the proposal should be considered beyond Barnham itself, including in neighbouring Thetford.
"We are fighting for the wider area and of course Thetford itself," he said.
What has the Home Office said?
The Home Office says it is continuing to explore using MoD Barnham to accommodate single adult male asylum seekers as part of the government's plans to reduce reliance on hotels.
It has submitted an Urgent Crown Development planning application to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
However, the department says the application does not mean the proposal has been approved, and that further assessments and relevant permissions are still required.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
"We continue to explore the use of MOD Barnham for asylum accommodation.
"The government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1 billion saved in costs since the election.
"This includes closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation, including former military sites. These are designed to be self-contained, with 24/7 security and CCTV, to reduce the impact on local communities."
The department maintains that its feasibility work does not predetermine the site's future use.
Barnham's public meeting takes place today, Saturday 24 October, at 2pm.