A radical plan to use an empty school in Kinross as temporary accommodation for Syrian refugees is being considered.
Former teacher David Hill, who lives in the town, branded the Westminster Government’s reaction to the growing crisis as “pathetic” and wants to see more being done.
He has written to councillors andpoliticians in an effort to galvanisesupport and is calling for Kinross to be made a local hub for receiving refugees, with accommodation provided in the old high school and a school set up in the vacant medical centre.
Retired teacher Mr Hill, 75, said while he welcomed the announcement that Perth and Kinross is to take in refugee families, he was critical of theWestminster Government’s response and called on them to “go into top gear rather than continue in its verymean-spirited mode”.
“I am sure that each area of Perth and Kinross should have its own scheme, coordinated by Perth and KinrossCouncil, and Kinross-shire should be one such area,” he said.
The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie, has already responded to Mr Hill’s letter and thanked him for his “very constructive and generous suggestions”.
He told him a special taskforce was considering how to coordinate action and suggestions like his and take them forward.
MSP Annabelle Ewing also thanked him for the idea which she wasforwarding on to Humza Yousaf,minister for Europe and international development, who is leading thetaskforce.
Conservative MSP Liz Smith said she welcomed the Government’s pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years but maintained “simply taking people is not a solution to thiscrisis”.
With regard to Mr Hill’s suggestion of using the old Kinross High School for accommodation, she said sheunderstood the building was “in a state of disrepair internally”.
Perth and Kinross Council declined to become involved in commenting on the proposal and said they had nothing to add to their recent statement thatthey were in the process of “positively preparing” to provide a new life for “a small number of families”.
This is understood to be around five families numbering 30 people who will be rehomed between now andChristmas.Dundee considering optionsDundee City Council is considering converting disused buildings in Dundee into homes for Syrian refugees as part of its response to the migrant crisis.
There have been calls by campaigners to accept more than 500 refugees, but a definite number is yet to be announced.
Councillor Ken Lynn, Dundee’s health and social work convener, said: “We are looking at ways of providing accommodation for the refugees and many people have offered to take them into their own homes.
“We’re at the very early stages of looking at our options we’re absolutely determined to have something in place.”