MALVERN could be home to Syrian refugees after council bosses pledged to re-open talks with neighbouring authories about a potential housing scheme in the town.
The news comes after Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the UK will accept up to 20,000 refugees over the next five years on Monday (September 7).
Malvern Hills District Council rejected a bid to house vulnerable people from the war-torn country back in July due to a ‘lack of support from key organisations’. However, following the latest announcement discussions are set to get back underway.
Coun Melanie Baker, portfolio holder for housing at MHDC, said: “We have always been clear the reason MHDC and our partners are currently unable to support the Syrian refugee programme is the lack of Government funding.
“However, I contacted the minister asking for a meeting to stress the importance of the Government changing its stance on funding so we could review our position – clearly this is now the case.
“We are now awaiting more detail following the Prime Minister’s announcement and we will then discuss our response with all our partners at a meeting of Worcestershire council leaders later this month.
“However I must stress the reality remains we would only be able to offer support with the involvement of our partners as part of a wider South Worcestershire plan and if proper funding is made available by the Government.”
Campaigners in the town have been vocal about their support to house refugees since the idea was first tabled in November last year.
Steering group Malvern Welcomes Syrian Refugees launched a petition last month and it has already collected more than 1,000 signatures. An open letter backing the bid has also been sent to MHDC and Worcestershire County Council.
Ruth Forecast, a member of the group, added: “We have been deeply moved by the number of people who have approached us in Malvern to sign our petition.
“We have also been overwhelmed by the continual messages of support and offers of help from people of all ages and backgrounds in the Malvern area.
“We are now a strong movement of people who are horrified by the daily images and reports of terrible human suffering and desperately want to help in any way possible.”
Coun Julian Roskams said the town had been at the forefront of efforts to resettle families and Malvern should be ‘proud it had blazed a trail which will be followed by many others’.
“We have been heartened by the number of individuals and local authorities from around the country that, hearing of our efforts, have contacted us for advice on how their areas might take part in this programme,” he said.
Coun Adrian Hardman, leader of the county council, said they were continuing to review the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme following the announcement and will hold a board meeting on September 21 to discuss the details.
