THE final refugees who were temporarily housed in Colchester after desperately fleeing from Afghanistan have now been given a permanent home.
Last summer, Colchester Council was approached to help with the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, which helped resettle anyone employed by the British army or UK Government in Afghanistan and their families.
For the past six months the Rose and Crown hotel, in East Street, has taken on more than 50 refugees.
But it has now been stood down as a bridging site after the last residents were rehomed.
The Ministry of Defence also stepped in to provide ten homes in the borough while publication of details by the Gazette has been kept to a minimum to protect the privacy of the vulnerable refugees.
Since being rehomed, many of the new residents have found work and their children placed in schools.
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“I felt strongly Colchester should help if we could,” said Colchester Council leader Paul Dundas.
“As a military town, I thought it was vital the UK was seen to keep its promises.
“Since last summer, more than 50 people have arrived at the Rose and Crown and then been rehomed around the UK, Colchester and Essex.
“This has been possible thanks to a huge amount of hard work by Colchester Council officers and help from both the Ministry of Defence and a number of private landlords.
“I would like to publicly thank everyone involved in bringing this about. I also think Colchester can be very proud of playing its part in this scheme.
“This does not mark the end of the scheme or Colchester’s involvement. People are still arriving and other receiving hotels elsewhere still active, but it is a milestone in the process.
“I hope we as a community welcome and help them. It is only right we help those who helped us.”
Mr Dundas added the council agreed to assist on the basis funding should come directly from the Government and not Colchester Council taxpayers.
He also stated housing should be outside of the council’s normal provisions and no-one on its current housing need list should be disadvantaged in any way.
NB: The Rose and Crown is still open as usual for business
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