THE news that Wiltshire Council is assessing the capacity to welcome refugees into the region is likely to divide the opinions of residents.

On the one hand there are the passionate supporters of causes attempting to help refugees overseas who will be glad to see some homed in the county.

Newly-formed groups such as CalAidMalmesbury, which has been gathering supplies to take to camps in Northern France being one.

But there will be many who say that school places are already in short supply and spare housing is basically non-existent, so the thought of an influx of new people putting a strain on already stretched resources is a major concern.

The council must know that this is a delicate and emotive issue that is crucial to get right.

They must weight up the demands of local people on both sides of the argument.

One suggestion made by Councillor Jon Hubbard was to use the youth hostels that have closed down in the county and the disused nursing homes.

“They can rapidly be turned into shelters that could be used,” he said.

Ideas like that may well be the key in finding a solution to this situation which goes some way to suiting everyone.

People looking for housing in the area wouldn’t live in an old youth hostel converted into a shelter, but a family of refugees may well be grateful for the opportunity.