Families and refugees could be moved onto cruise ship to tackle housing crisis

11 January 2023 , 10:32

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Due to the pandemic, many cruise ships are being scrapped (Image: Getty Images)

Families and refugees could be forced to move into a cruise ship in a bid to tackle the housing crisis.

A council has now put up the plan for consideration after the demand for housing has grown in the last few months.

Torridge District Council in Devon say that high demand for public housing for Ukrainian and other refugees, along with homeless people, has left a need for "radical measures".

However while there was an overwhelming vote on exploring the idea further, many councillors have raised concerns over space, money, hygiene and ship maintenance.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for the cruise holiday industry has reduced, meaning that many boats are being scrapped - giving the council an opportunity to make use of an abandoned boat.

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The idea follows a similar one that was implemented by the Scottish Government to house Ukrainian refugees (Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)

The idea, which was originally proposed by Labour Cllr David Brenton at a meeting in late December, has been backed, overwhelmingly, by councillors.

Cllr Brenton noted during the meeting that the Scottish Government have used similar tactics to house Ukrainian refugees since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The MS Victoria housed refugees in Leith, a port district north of Edinburgh and aimed to provide “safe accommodation for displaced people” until June 2023.

As of December 2022, the ship accommodated around 1,275 refugees including families and children.

He added that Torridge was in a uniquely advantageous position due to the ownership of the coastal town's middle dock.

In the motion, he wrote: "With the large numbers of cruise ships being scrapped or laid up due to a fall in demand following Covid.

"I propose that TDC explore the feasibility of forming a partnership with our neighboring authorities i.e North Devon and Exeter etc, with a view to leasing or renting a vessel to accommodate emergency or other housing list people.

The councillor spoke of needing to implement the 'radical measures' to alleviate 'radical times' (Getty images) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"Cruise ships have a high standard of habitation and self-contained servicing and a suitable craft which would fit into Middle Dock could provide a quick solution for some of our desperate citizens needing housing."

Speaking at the meeting, he added: "We live in radical times which call for radical measures to alleviate them. We do need to look at what's coming our way and it's about to hit the fan. It's getting quite serious now over the question of accommodation.

"This clearly needs a lot of work to be done alongside this. It may be an ideal thing for an intern or apprentice to do some homework on this, but also to contact our neighbouring authorities.

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"I have spoken to the housing officer at Exeter City Council who expressed an interest, but not in writing yet."

The idea was proposed by Labour Cllr David Brenton at a meeting in late December (Getty Images/500px)

Despite the overwhelming vote to explore the idea, many councillors have slammed the plan.

Cllr Rachel Clarke, an Independent, raised concerns about hygiene and just how tightly packed the accommodation would be.

She said: "The idea in principle is very good. My concern is that when you put lots of people in tight accommodation like that, you've got to think of diseases and illnesses which could happen. Do we have the right infrastructure for doctors and nurses which we have a major problem with?

"It needs a lot of work and you've got to spread it out as there are other things, such as alcohol or drug issues. It's not an easy fix. We've just got to think it through properly."

The Devon council have become concerned due to the upcoming expiration of the Ukrainian refugee host family scheme (Getty images) (Getty Images)

And another councillor, Cllr Peter Christie of the Green Party, put forward his concerns regarding the cost of the project, saying: "When I saw this first, I suspect I had the same feeling as many of us that this was slightly crackers. Having said that, I think it is worth looking at.

"I used to be in the merchant navy, and the big problem with ships is maintenance. I think we need to approach the harbourmaster, Appledore Shipyard, and ask them about this.

"It could be an ongoing cost that is so high it would rule it out, but by all means let's look at it."

The Devon council previously committed themselves to resolving the housing crisis through more conventional means.

Most recently, they have become concerned as to where they will home the refugees, due to the upcoming expiration of the Ukrainian refugee host family scheme, which ends on May 16.

Milica Cosic