Totnes Lib Dems call on council to offer accommodation to Syrian refugees

Syrian refugees sleeping at Budapest train station in Hungary

TOTNES Liberal Democrats are calling on South Hams District Council to offer temporary accommodation in the area to some of the refugees that the Government is planning to take from camps bordering Syria.

John Birch, speaking on behalf of the Totnes Liberal Democrats, said: "South Hams has within its district one of the largest proportions of second homes in the UK, with over 4,000 in number and forming over 10 per cent of the housing stock.

"Most of these homes are empty during the winter and we propose that the council and Government encourage the second home owners to make their properties available to Syrian refugees in the short-term while permanent arrangements are made.

"Encouragement to the second home owners could be in the form of a short-term letting fee or rent paid by the Government out of its overseas aid budget.

"South Hams District Council should also encourage the owners of other empty buildings within the area to make their premises available as temporary accommodation for the refugees. Examples of such properties are those owned by the Dartington Trust."