Campaigners will rally outside council offices this weekend, urging officials to house refugees fleeing conflicts, persecution and extremism in the Middle East and Africa.

The rally on Saturday (September 12) has been organised by the Epping Supporters of the Women and Children of Calais (ESWCC), and will coincide with a national day of action from groups flying the ‘Refugees Welcome’ banner.

The group, which formed recently to collect donations for refugees at the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais, will be joined by members of the public outside the Civic Offices in Epping High Street between 12.30pm and 1pm.

The rally aims to encourage Epping Forest District Council to either actively home refugees or help coordinate other housing efforts.

Activist and Green Party member Dave Plummer has helped organise the rally.

He said: “There is a housing shortage, but the council can do what they can to support households who might want to put a family up.

“We have already seen the people of Epping Forest come together to support the refugees at Calais but this is a much bigger problem than that – people need homes.”

He added: “We have got a long history of supporting people when they need it, we cannot turn our backs on people now.”

The group will also be collecting signatures for a petition started by Mr Plummer on Friday, which has so far seen 43 people call for the council to house 50 refugee families.

Mr Plummer said although this is unlikely, the council needs to “get the ball rolling” and start planning after the Prime Minister signalled the country will be taking thousands more refugees fleeing conflict in Syria.

Last night Green councillor Steven Neville wrote to the council leader, councillor Chris Whitbread, asking “what [the council’s] response to the refugee crisis is and the latest government initiative, and whether they are considering taking in any of the refugees… or coordinating efforts.”

Cllr. Neville said: “The public response to the refugee crisis, from groups such as ESWCC, has shown that the compassionate heart of Epping Forest is beating strongly.

“Now I am hoping our council will do their bit.

“The Syrian refugees are families whose lives have been turned upside by extremism and war.

“We urge local people to join us in letting the council know that refugees are welcome in Epping Forest.”

ESWCC and the council have been contacted for comment.

 

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