The Inevitable Tide: A Mother's Concern for Tunbridge Wells

  As a lifelong resident of Tunbridge Wells, a devoted wife and mother, I've always cherished the safety and serenity of our picturesque town. The Pantiles, our historic wells, the sense of community—it's what makes this place feel like home. But lately, a shadow looms over us: the prospect of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) being repurposed for undocumented migrants. Is it only a matter of time before it reaches our doorstep? Have we just been lucky so far, while neighboring areas bear the brunt?

I've watched with growing alarm as ordinary women—wives and mothers just like me—in places like Epping and Crowborough voice their genuine fears. In Epping, protests erupted over hotels like the Bell being used for asylum seekers, amid reports of local disturbances and safety concerns. The Home Office even abandoned plans to buy flats there after backlash, but the hotels continue. Now, in Crowborough—just nine miles away—the government has begun the planning to house hundreds of male asylum seekers at the old army camp, with the first arrivals possibly due this month. Local residents, including families, have launched legal challenges, fearing for community safety and upgrading CCTV in response.

These aren't fringe voices; they're everyday people worried about overburdened resources, potential crime, and the well-being of their children.

This isn't about race—it's about protecting our families. Women across the UK are demanding that our concerns be heard, not dismissed as bigotry. If undocumented migrants are placed in Tunbridge Wells, I will join the protests without hesitation. I'm no longer afraid of labels like "racist" or "xenophobe." I'll stand tall for the safety of women and girls in our town, because if it can happen in Epping and Crowborough, it's only a matter of time here.

We deserve better from our government. My husband and I have joined Reform as they seem to be the only Party I feel I  could trust to deal with the issue.

KAREN BURT