A public information event is being held for residents of three villages near an army camp housing Afghan citizens.
Afghan families have been temporarily housed at Nesscliffe Barracks in Shropshire since November, under government supervision. Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
The meeting on Tuesday evening is aimed at people living in Nesscliffe, Wilcott and Pentre and aims to inform them of the support on offer for about 300 Afghansand to address concerns, for example about local services.
“It’s essentially about providing security to the local community,” said Ed Potter of Shropshire Council.
The ARAP is for people who supported the British government and military in Afghanistan.
There will be a presentation from the Ministry of Defence at the village meeting at 7pm (BST).
Citizens were able to submit questions to the Ministry of Defence in advance. Topics raised included road safety and concerns that local services could come under pressure.
Due to the location of the camp, people must walk along a busy nearby road to get around the area.
“There are some safety issues on the highways, we have no sidewalks and no street lighting,” Potter said.
“It is also about the pressure on local facilities, including the use of the park.”
Mr Potter expressed hope that the meeting would put an end to misinformation circulating online, such as that the presence of Afghan families was affecting the availability of GP appointments.
“Health care is provided to the camp through a separate NHS contract, but of course there are rumours and speculation,” he said.
“People can’t get an appointment with their family doctor and the blame is then placed on the camp, which is not necessarily true.”
Mr Potter said racist graffiti appeared in a playground in early August and hateful comments against Afghans were posted on social media.
But Mr Potter said the vast majority of people wanted to support Afghan citizens.
“When information is not readily available, it fuels speculation and rumors, and often those rumors and speculations are unfounded.”
The camp was initially intended to house Afghan families for six months, but it is hoped that the meeting will provide clarity on how long this will be the case.
“We don’t know the dates, so such meetings make sense,” added Mr Potter.
