LEADING members of Forest of Dean District Council’s cabinet believe the organisation would be ready if called upon by central government to help respond to the refugee crisis gripping the European Union.

Council leader Patrick Molyneux said the council ‘will do anything and everything the government asks’ in terms of the crisis but added it was ‘unlikely’ the Forest of Dean district would see many refugees arrive.

“It’s more likely when we talk about Gloucestershire it’s going to be Gloucester,” he said.

“We’ve looked closely at where we stand on what’s happened before and to be honest, because we’re such a rural district and generally refugees are housed more in cities because that’s where you have all the facilities including translation and it’s easier to get about to the services they would need to call upon.

“Certainly we’re here to do what we can, and the housing and homeless teams will be here to offer whatever help we can depending on what the Government asks us to do. We’re ready to respond but it will probably be more of the cities than rural areas.

“I believe we have had refugees in the district before so we have looked after them or they’ve been living here and required whatever service, so it’s not unheard but generally the first port of call would be a more urban environment.”

Coun Molyneux added he had received ‘a number of emails’ from residents offering places for refugees.

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