A PETITION has been set up calling for Ceredigion council to take at least 50 refugees a year after claims that 10 a year until 2020 is “not enough”.

Last week, the Cambrian News revealed that 40 more Syrian refugees will be arriving in Aberystwyth before 2020 after the first 10 refugees from Syria arrived in the town before Christmas.

It followed a Ceredigion council U-turn on taking in refugees as the crisis in Europe deepened and amid public support.

The 10 refugees currently in Aberystwyth will now be joined by 40 others before 2020 under plans outlined by the council, but campaigners want the council to go further.

Petition founder Lindsey Gaunt — also the founder of Aberaid, set up in the wake of the Syria refugee crisis — said: “In 2015 Ceredigion County Council agreed to play its part in the refugee crisis response and to participate in the Home Office resettlement program which was a generous and supportive move."

The county’s Syrian Refugee Task and Finish group agreed in February to inform the Welsh Government that Ceredigion has “capacity to accept 50 refugees over a five-year period, at a rate of 10 people per year.”

The petition calling for Ceredigion council to take in more refugees has so far been signed by 200 people.To view the petition, click here

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops now or online by clicking the Digital Editions tab at the top of the page