A Crowborough resident has said she is "astounded and appalled" after a Green councillor announced she and her grandchildren have written - and will now deliver - Valentine's Day cards to asylum seekers housed in a nearby army base.
Anne Cross, who sits on East Sussex County Council, said the cards will be presented to the men this weekend.
In footage of a recent meeting revealed by Guido Fawkes, the councillor said: "My grandchildren and I painted some cards - Valentine’s Cards - at the weekend which we are going to be presenting to the men in the camp in Crowborough as a welcome."
But the controversial move has ignited fury among residents, with local Sammy White unleashing her fury on Good Afternoon Britain.
She told GB News: "I'm absolutely astounded and quite frankly, appalled that this is even a topic for discussion.
"At what point does anyone, let alone a grandmother, a mother, think or realise that this is at "east not only inappropriate, but at worst, downright dangerous?
"These guys are unvetted, undocumented adult males. I can't believe for a second that she would encourage her grandchildren to send Valentine's Day cards to a group of white British men, let alone these guys that we are hosting in camp."
Ms White added: "Culturally, we all know that these men have very little respect for women and young women and children. We've already had so many instances in the press."
A Crowborough resident has said she is 'astounded and appalled'
|GB NEWS/PA
Last week, an Iranian asylum seeker, who came to the UK illegally on the back of a lorry in July 2024, has been sentenced to 7.5 years for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old girl "forcefully and aggressively".
Ahmadreza Khalafi, 29, previously pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the teen at St Albans Crown Court in December last year.
Then, several days later, an Afghan small boat migrant was found guilty of abducting and raping 12-year-old girl at Warwick Crown Court.
Asylum seeker Ahmad Mulakhil was found guilty of abducting, raping and taking an indecent video of the pre-teen in Nuneaton.
CROWBOROUGH LATEST:
Ms Cross has defended her decision saying it was 'common practice'
|EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
"Taking our children to this camp to give them Valentine's Day cards is not sending the right message," the resident raged.
She questioned why the camp will cost more than £5million extra in funds for policing - if the men did not post a threat to safety more than any other individuals, as Ms Cross claimed.
"The camp is within walking distance of six or seven schools, and the police are aware of that. The Home Office is aware of that. That's why policing has increased for that reason," she fumed.
"We're having very difficult conversations with our children and grandchildren about the increased risk of walking home from school.
"We should be having those conversations. And this woman, by taking Valentine's Day cards to these men, is sending the wrong message. I just... I don't understand," Ms White concluded, seemingly at a loss for words.
In response, GB News star Emily Carver grimaced at the councillor's decision, saying it was using children as "political pawns".
In a statement, Ms Cross said: "Making cards to welcome people seeking asylum is a common activity for local people, school children and refugee charities. I oined in that activity with my grandchildren. The cards will go, anonymously, to the men in the camp as a welcome from the local community.
"There has been much misinformation about the men who will be housed in the camp and this has created a climate of fear.
"But there is no evidence that children or women are at a higher risk from people seeking asylum than other sections of our society."
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