Ukraine: Lancastrians told homes are "too remote" to house Ukrainian refugees

Kind-hearted Lancastrians fear their homes are "too remote" to house Ukrainian refugees under the Government’s sanctuary scheme.
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More than 4,200 people in the county have applied to the Homes For Ukraine scheme, but the Post has heard from people living in villages who believe they may not be able to proceed with a placement due to their remote location - something made troublesome when, according to Marketing Lancashire, 80 per cent of the county is officially classed as rural.

>>>Read why a Ribble Valley couple were prevented from housing an autistic Ukrainian teenager

A spokesman from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities denied this was the case, saying: “There are no restrictions whatsoever on geographical locations that would prevent the form being accepted".

Ukrainians stage a protest outside of the United Nations Office during special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the war in Ukraine, in Geneva on May 12, 2022. - Ukraine slams what it calls the "sheer horror" and "pure evil" being inflicted on their country by Russian forces as the United Nations Human Rights Council holds an extraordinary session on Ukraine. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)Ukrainians stage a protest outside of the United Nations Office during special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the war in Ukraine, in Geneva on May 12, 2022. - Ukraine slams what it calls the "sheer horror" and "pure evil" being inflicted on their country by Russian forces as the United Nations Human Rights Council holds an extraordinary session on Ukraine. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukrainians stage a protest outside of the United Nations Office during special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the war in Ukraine, in Geneva on May 12, 2022. - Ukraine slams what it calls the "sheer horror" and "pure evil" being inflicted on their country by Russian forces as the United Nations Human Rights Council holds an extraordinary session on Ukraine. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
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But one mum from Treales, near Kirkham, says a Government email makes clear some applicates from remote location will be able to proceed.

The email states: "not all those who expressed an interest in offering accommodation will be able to proceed: some homes, for instance, may be too remote for Ukrainian people who would like access to jobs or who may not be able to proceed."

The woman, who has asked not to be named, said: "We have horses and fields and we're only a five or 10 minute walk from Kirkham town centre, but our postcode classes us as rural.

"I'm sure that some Ukrainians would love to be in or near the countryside - they're not all from big cities.

Visas have been approved under the Homes for Ukraine schemeVisas have been approved under the Homes for Ukraine scheme
Visas have been approved under the Homes for Ukraine scheme
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"If it were me with my children fleeing war, I would gladly accept.

The Post also understands that people living in the Longton area and Western Parishes of South Ribble have also been told their homes are too remote.

A spokesman for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities added that some people may have been rejected by third-party agencies helping the Government scheme.

They added: "There are separate agencies and charities which help to match refugees that may have different resources in different areas."

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Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden registered her interest on a website called Ukraine Shelter and was rejected as being too rural.

She later tweeted: “If you are feeling frustrated about not being able to match with a Ukraine family you can donate to Air bnb who are working with aid Agencies to match families with emergency homes.”