No homes for Syrians in two districts

Two councils in Kent will not house any Syrian refugees, it has been revealed.

A report revealed how many refugees would be accommodated by district councils across the county between 2015 and 2020, under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (SVPRS).

But as it stands, Sevenoaks and Medway are not taking any.

Maidstone plans to take six single men or women or a large family over five years.

The figures come from a report by Sevenoaks council and the scheme is co-ordinated by Kent County Council.

Topping the list is Ashford council, which has agreed to take 250 people – approximately 50 families – in the five-year period, while Canterbury, Shepway, Swale, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells pledged to take 10 families each.

Of the district councils, only Sevenoaks has yet to agree on how many refugees it is prepared to accommodate.

It said this was because of the lack of affordable private sector homes in the district.

The national SVPRS scheme is based on the needs of individuals and gives priority to those who cannot be supported in their homeland.

To date 43 people have been resettled in Kent, the equivalent of 10 families.