MORE than a third of the refugees who arrived in the UK last year under a government scheme were settled in Bolton, it has been revealed.

The borough welcomed 255 refugees from countries including Somalia, Sudan, and DR Congo in 2016/17 — 34 per cent of the total that came to the UK under the Gateway Protection Programme.

But council’s leader, Cllr Cliff Morris, says that the allocation system is “unfair and in need of significant reform”.

The Gateway Protection Programme is one of many pathways into the country for refugees and helps to settle up to 750 people per year, 470 of whom come to the North West.

Bolton signed up to the scheme, run by UK Visas and Immigration in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2004 and is one of several local authorities taking part — including five others in Greater Manchester.

Town hall politicians are now arguing that urgent action needs to be taken to reduce the disproportionate number of refugees coming to Bolton.

Bolton’s Conservative leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, raised the issue at last week’s full council meeting and says that “serious questions” need to be asked over why Bolton takes such a high percentage.

And Cllr Morris said: “It is common decency that we do not turn our backs on these refugees, many of whom are children – this is the least we can do.

“The disparity in the number of refugees taken in by Bolton over the years, compared to the rest of the country and particularly the South, is staggering.

“The current system is unfair and in need of significant reform and we will remind the Government of our concerns.

“I believe we must – as a country – help those who are most in need, without having to rely on local authorities just like Bolton, to voluntarily extend a helping hand.

“We carefully considered the resources required to accommodate refugees and it is important to remember that, in helping refugees, the resources required are not funded through local taxes at all.”

Bolton Council recovers all costs incurred from the Gateway Protection Programme, last year claiming £500,000 to put back into local services.

Where refugees are allocated under the scheme is dependent on the available housing and resources in the participating boroughs.

Cllr Greenhalgh, said: “Some very serious questions need to be asked of the ruling Labour group as to why they have sat back and allowed Bolton last year to receive well over half the number of refugees placed in the North West from this scheme, which equates to Bolton receiving over a third of the total that came to the UK.

“And in return the council has received £500,000, the equivalent of less than £2,000 per refugee.

“I completely support and am proud of this country’s reputation of providing a safe haven for those fleeing persecution, but equally I am also in favour of all councils sharing the impact of new arrivals within their communities.

“At a time when the Labour group are happy to keep reminding the residents of this town how stretched our public services are, they are prepared to allow our health service, our schools, our housing and our social services to be stretched even further with new arrivals.”

Cllr Roger Hayes, Bolton Lib Dem leader, said: “I think other authorities should certainly take their fair share.

“Bolton has a long and proud history of providing sanctuary and I am all for offering the hand of friendship for people in real need.

“I am proud that we are doing our bit and 255 is a fairly low number, but there should be a fair distribution.”

UKIP group leader, Cllr Sean Hornby, said it is time for other councils “to do their bit”.

He added: “I have always said that Bolton should be proud of what it has done, but we have done more than our fair share.

“It is now putting a strain on our schools, our health services, and our housing situation.”

It was also revealed at the town hall meeting that Bolton currently houses 1,129 asylum seekers — an allocation that is determined at a national level by Serco — and that that figure is unlikely to change before the end of 2019 due to a lack of available housing.

Cllr Greenhalgh added: “I will also continue to ask questions about the allocation of 1,129 asylum seekers to Bolton, which I believe again is a contract signed by the ruling Labour Group to the detriment of this town.

“I am happy for asylum seekers to come to Bolton to make a fresh start, and they should be welcomed, but it is just not fair that other neighbouring councils take none at all, and that Bolton receives such a huge percentage of the total.”