Barnham is preparing a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK, turning a dispute over proposed asylum accommodation at RAF Barnham into a test of how forcefully a small village can challenge central government.

The vote has no legal effect, but supporters say its political purpose is clear. At a public meeting, residents voted heavily in favour of holding the ballot after plans emerged to use the nearby former military base for asylum seekers. The proposed capacity was initially 1,250 people, before being reduced to about 913 or 930 in differing reports—still greater than Barnham’s population of roughly 600.¹

Parish council chairman John Bauer framed the referendum as a response to what residents regard as inadequate consultation. “Residents voted decisively in favour of holding a referendum as a means to demonstrate the strength of feeling in the village,” he said, arguing that the decision contrasted with the government’s “high-handed approach.”¹ In a separate account, Bauer said a symbolic declaration of secession would “send a powerful message to Westminster” and show that the earlier Piddington vote was not an isolated protest.²

The Home Office offers a different rationale. It says it is seeking a “fairer distribution of asylum accommodation” by closing asylum hotels and moving people to alternative sites, including former military facilities. The department says such locations are intended to be self-contained, with round-the-clock security and CCTV, to reduce effects on neighbouring communities.¹

There is also a narrower point of agreement among opponents and some political representatives: a local ballot can provide an outlet for residents’ views. A Labour MP quoted in the report rejected a proposed county-wide referendum as a potentially costly use of public money, but supported a “proportionate” village vote so residents could make their voices heard.¹

A working group is due to determine the referendum timetable. While the ballot cannot alter policy on its own, its backers hope it will add local pressure as the government considers whether and when to proceed with RAF Barnham.