Photographs show Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex

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Photographs show a military barracks that could be used to house asylum seekers.

The Home Office confirmed on Monday that Crowborough Training Camp in Sussex and Cameron Barracks in Inverness would be used to house about 900 men temporarily.

The move has proven to be controversial with a “furious” Conservative MP for Sussex Weald Nus Ghani calling the plans “wholly inappropriate”.

She has launched a petition in a bid to stop the scheme going ahead.

Daniel Manvell, Labour councillor and cabinet member for housing, benefits and revenues at Wealden District Council, also expressed his concerns, saying he was worried about the impact on local services and the “risk of community tensions”.

Wealden District councillor Ann Newton, speaking on behalf of her fellow Tory councillors, said they were also "very concerned by news of the government’s decision".

The training campnull (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

They are calling for an emergency council meeting to discuss the proposals.

Downing Street has suggested the plan will be worth it, even if it costs more than using hotels, because it will help quell public discontent.

Sir Keir Starmer said he wants to see asylum hotels closed “as quickly as possible” and is “bearing down on this every day of the week”.

Spending on the plan could prove to be higher than housing migrants in hotels, defence minister Luke Pollard signalled on Tuesday morning.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said costs “will vary site by site”, when asked about Mr Pollard’s suggestion.

“But our priorities are security and fairness,” he added.

The spokesman continued: “Military sites can provide proper security, health and wellbeing standards, and that is what we’re intent on delivering, instead of luxury sites, as we’ve seen over recent years.”

null (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

Asked if this meant the government thought barracks were a better option even if costs were higher, the spokesman replied: “I think there’s a number of issues in play.

“The costs will vary site by site, and as I say, we are looking at these initial two sites and if they will prove the concept, and if successful we’ll look at scaling that up.

“But this is also a core issue of public confidence. The public is very clear it does not want asylum seekers housed in hotels, and neither does the government.”

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