Crowborough: Protests 'dividing' community, group warns
Crowborough Unity was set up in response to 13 weeks of local protest after it was announced the town's former military camp would be used to house around 600 immigrants.
A Crowborough residents' group says protests over asylum seekers being housed there have "divided" the community.
Crowborough Unity was set up in response to 13 weeks of local protest after it was announced the town's former military camp would be used to house around 600 immigrants.
The group has started collecting welcome messages to pass to asylum seekers.
Rebecca, who's from the group, said it hoped to provide a "different voice" for Crowborough: "One of the main things that's really important to us is the fact that when these protests are over, when the asylum seekers have been moved on, we will have a really big job ahead of us in restoring the unity and faith in our community.
"The protests have caused a lot of division and a lot of a lot of hostility. So hopefully in the future, we'll be able to bring our community back together."
The site, which is designed to be self-sufficient, accommodates adult male asylum seekers between the ages of 18-65 after initial screening checks.
Rebecca added: "We'd like them to know that there are a lot of people here that welcome them and understand what they've been through and want to show support.
"Even though it is a really difficult situation for our community and a lot of people are very fearful, to us, it's about working through a difficult situation and overcoming a difficult situation together."
The group is holding a "friendly community gathering" with Stand Up To Racism at 12pm today (14th February).