PLANS to bring refugees from war-torn Syria to the Malvern area took a major step forward yesterday when Worcestershire county councillors voted unanimously in favour of the scheme.

The decision follows the publication of an open letter from leading figures from Malvern's religious and civic communities urging district and county councillors to support the government's Syrian Vulnerable Persons Scheme, which could see up to 12 refugee families settled in the Malvern area.

Although Malvern Hills and Worcestershire councils both expressed interest when the proposal was mooted at the end of 2014, they drew back from commitment to the scheme earlier this summer because of worries about funding.

But following yesterday's reversal by the county council, Coun Melanie Baker of Malvern Hills said the council is now "ready and willing" to join the scheme.

Ruth Forecast, one of the prime movers in the scheme, said after the meeting: "We're all very pleased that the council has taken this step, which I think is an irreversible step forward.

"There is still a lot of work to do, but this is the decision we were hoping for when we first presented the proposals back in December."

Coun Julian Roskams, one of the letter's signatories, said: "I'm absolutely delighted. It's a complete sea-change. I think councillors realise the strength of feeling across many different parts of the community, which is reflected in the letter. This is a humanitarian matter and all of us are humans."

Coun Baker said: "If the funding is there, the resettlement plan from government supports it and we have support from all our partners, as part of a joined-up south Worcestershire plan, then Malvern Hills District Council is ready and willing to play its part in responding to this humanitarian crisis."

At yesterday's meeting, Coun Tom Wells called the Middle East situation "the most serious humanitarian crisis since World War Two" before reading out many heart-felt notes he's had from the public.

Coun John Raine severely criticised June's cabinet report which poured cold water on the previous proposal, labelling it "un-evidenced".

The letter described the councils' concerns about the scheme as "misguided", and called on members to support it.

Among the 21 signatories are the Bishop of Worcester John Inge, Great Malvern Priory vicar John Barr and representatives of local Roman Catholic and Methodist churches, Quakers, Buddhists, and Churches Together in Malvern.

*We would like to point out that a photograph used in last week’s Gazette regarding the Old Bush Inn collecting items for refugees, was of the pub launch. Audra Allard, and her family, who are in the picture are not involved in the current campaign.