Homes pledge for refugee families

Up to five refugee families could be given homes in South Cambridgeshire.

Lib Dem-controlled South Cambridgeshire District Council announced yesterday (Tuesday) that it was planning to offer suitable accommodation for Syrian families who had had to flee the fighting in the home country.

Cambridge City Council has helped provide homes for 100 refugees and South Cambs District Council may make a joint pledge with the city to resettle refugees via the government’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement and Resettlement of Vulnerable Children schemes.

District council leader Cllr Bridget Smith said: “The previous administration refused to make provision for any refugees in what is one of the wealthiest areas of the country. We are very fortunate to live in South Cambs – we should be sharing that fortune with people who have less than nothing through no fault of their own.”

Cllr Hazel Smith, lead cabinet member for housing, said: “It is up to all councils across the UK to take action to provide safe accommodation for refugees and, since taking control of the council in May 2018, the administration has been determined to play its part.”

A final decision on the plans will be made a cabinet meeting on April 3.