Mon Aug 08, 2016 3:38 pm
Church of England could sell mansion after Syrian refugee centre plans scrapped
A rural 18th Century Warwickshire mansion which served as a religious retreat may be sold off after plans to become a centre for Syrian refugees fell through.
The Church of England is currently looking for partners to help redevelop Offa House, near Leamington, in an effort to reopen the property as a “place of spiritual renewal for the Diocese and beyond”.
However, it also admits it could be forced to lease or sell the unused Grade II listed building if it can’t find a partnership with an “aligned’ organisation.
Proposals were put forward to Warwick District Council in October last year to turn the Georgian building, in Village Street, Offchurch, into short-term accommodation for refugees.
But these plans - put forward by Diocese of Coventry - were scrapped after the a government decision that refugees should go straight into permanent housing.
The Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry, said: “I am sorry to say that the Home Office no longer has the need to use Offa House as short-term accommodation for Syrian refugees.
“For the past six months, discussions with the Home Office have been our only focus. From now it will be our primary focus, but we will also be actively pursuing three other options.”
The CofE is considering the re-opening of Offa House as a retreat, a partnership with an aligned organisation, or the sale ot long-term lease of the property.
Offa House has been a retreat and conference centree for the Diocese since 1962 and offers substantial car parking.
Interested organisations should call Tim Coleman on 07740 818337 or e-mail tim.coleman@covcofe.org by September 8.
Mon Aug 29, 2016 3:21 pm
City council calls on Coventrians to help bring 300 refugee children to Britain
Coun John Mutton
Coventry council is inviting residents to sign a petition to help bring 300 refugee children trapped in Calais over to Britain.
A petition is being circulated online calling for the Government to bring over hundreds of children in time for the start of a new school year.
The city’s councillors are encouraging residents to offer their support to the refugees, 105 of whom already live in the city.
The campaign was started by Labour peer Lord Alfred Dubs who was a child refugee, rescued by the UK in 1938 from the Nazis.
At the time of writing, the campaign had nearly 58,000 signatories.
Coun John Mutton has offered his support to the campaign and is encouraging all those that feel moved by the campaign to add their names to the petition.
He said: “It has often been said that a sign of a civilised society is how they treat vulnerable people less fortunate than themselves.
“Some of the most vulnerable children in the world are stuck in the refugee camp in Calais, being exploited.
“We have the chance to live up to our reputation of being a compassionate and caring city by all signing the petition.”
Coventry is currently home to 105 Syrian refugees who have been placed here through a government scheme to settle those fleeing war and persecution.
Earlier this month, Coun Ed Ruane condemned other local authorities for not doing as much for refugees as Coventrians.
Mon Aug 29, 2016 5:08 pm
Wed Aug 31, 2016 11:04 am
He said: “It has often been said that a sign of a civilised society is how they treat vulnerable people less fortunate than themselves.
“We have the chance to live up to our reputation of being a compassionate and caring city by all signing the petition.”
Wed Aug 31, 2016 4:42 pm
Wed Aug 31, 2016 8:57 pm
Wed Aug 31, 2016 9:26 pm
Wed Aug 31, 2016 9:32 pm
rebbonk wrote:Saudi won't take them because they know what they are.
!"
Wed Aug 31, 2016 10:10 pm
rebbonk wrote:Saudi won't take them because they know what they are.
To quote a source of mine in the ME, "They're the wrong type of Muslim!"
Wed Sep 07, 2016 5:30 am
Coventry Council says other towns and cities should be forced to take in refugees
Coventry City Council have demanded that other local authorities in the country are forced to take in Syrian refugees.
Councillors almost unanimously called on the Prime Minister Theresa May to make it impossible for other councils to shy away from taking in those fleeing the conflict in Syria.
Members voted on the issue during a full council meeting on Tuesday when Labour Coun Abdul Khan, deputy leader, put forward a motion which insisted other local authorities should be made to follow Coventry’s lead and that there should be a timetable for when refugees should be taken in.
Coun Khan said: “This country is failing in its moral duty to help Syrian refugees and help them to raise their families free from terror.
“Coventry has lived up to its title as a city of sanctuary by re-homing 105 refugees, the largest number in the country.
“We believe it is right to help those in need and we are very proud for the way our residents have made them feel at home and part of our communities.”
Coun Khan said only one in six local authorities had re-homed refugees and that insisted this was “simply not good enough”.
He added: “There’s no excuse for councils, wherever they are in the UK, to not take Syrian refugees.
“If councils don’t enjoy diverse communities, it’s about time they did so.”
Conservative leader John Blundell put forward a motion asking for the call for compulsory quotas and time tables to be removed, insisting that the fact councils were re-homing refugees voluntarily was the best approach.
The numbers given by Coun Khan were also disputed by Coun Blundell who said 118 out of 160 local authorities had actually agreed to take Syrian refugees and a government target of 20,000 had already been met.
He said: “I’m very proud that Coventry is a pioneer of taking Syrian refugees, that’s something I would commend.
“The government is fulfilling its duty and there’s no need for the demand to the prime minister.
“By and large the British people have fulfilled the promise that the government made.”
Labour Coun Ann Lucas said that councillors had received hate mail as a result of the city’s policy to re-home Syrian refugees.
She said: “There were words that even I didn’t know existed, but what struck me was that the messages were filled with misinformation.
“Refugees are “some of the most damaged people you will ever find. While they’re here, let’s make them welcome.”