Call to end 'uncertainty' over visas for Ukrainians

WEST Devon Borough Council is calling on the government to offer Ukrainians living in the UK a three-year extension to their visas to give them greater stability and allow children to complete their education in British schools.

- ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

Council leader Mandy Ewings (Ind, Tavistock South West) said the 18-month extension announced by the government earlier this year would cause uncertainty among the 200 Ukrainians who now call West Devon their home.

At last week's meeting of the full council she said with the council's support, private rental accommodation had been secured by Ukrainian families but as rental agreements were coming to an end landlords would undoubtedly look for certainty about long term lets.

“We all deserve the right to take control of our own destiny, we all deserve to be treated with compassion. It simply isn’t right with the war raging on, and many still having family in UK, that they face this uncertainty.

“We need to do all we can to support Ukrainians within the borough who are now our neighbours, our friends.