Visegrád 24@visegrad24
Residents of Piddington, a small English village of just 370 people, are pushing for a symbolic referendum on independence from the United Kingdom after the Labour government announced plans to house up to 1,250 male asylum seekers at a military base beside the community.
The proposed center at Bicester Garrison in Oxfordshire could hold more than three times Piddington’s population and may begin operating by the end of 2026. Residents say they were informed only after the plan was already largely decided and fear the impact on local security, infrastructure, and public services.
On July 4th, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence, villagers held a preliminary vote on whether to organize an independence referendum. Of those who voted, 96% backed the proposal, with 175 votes in favor and seven against.
Bicester is one of three military sites selected to accommodate around 3,750 asylum seekers. The others are RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire and RAF Barnham in Suffolk, where residents have also protested.
The government also plans to expand existing centers at Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough in Sussex, adding space for another 1,750 people as it seeks to reduce the use of asylum hotels before the end of the parliamentary term.
