SU voices doubts over Heslington East plans as they are called in for a public enquiry by the Government
AS HESLINGTON EAST is called in for public enquiry, the Student Union have added its support to the campaign spearheaded by Nouse, and have passed policy to “support Heslington East”, but only “in the interests of students.”
Micky Armstrong, the new SU President, explained that he shared our concerns over the accommodation plans for campus expansion. These require 10,000 extra students to stay on campus for the course of their degree, and have been condemned by local residents as an unrealistic “open prison”.
Armstrong said: “It’s difficult to tell whether people will stay on campus, because trends often change. Currently the trend is for people to live off campus, but in my first year everybody wanted to stay on campus.”
He continued: “[Top-up fees] will change the face of students so we can’t really judge trends six years down the line currently.
“Our problem is making sure that students are happy and are living in good accommodation. If they find cheaper and better accommodation off campus its not our problem, its the University’s.”
He also confirmed that the guarantee of an exclusive student bar and venue is still a long way off. The venue is in the third stage of the development plans, which means that it won’t be built until the University reaches the capacity to support it. This could mean waiting for 10,000 people to apply and take up residence before the build even begins.
Heslington residents are extremely pleased that the plans are being called in, as they have concerns over a wide range of issues. These include the negative environmental impact of the loss of 287 acres of greenbelt land and the intense studentification of Heslington.
They have even challenged whether there is real student demand for more places, or whether the expansion is just an excuse for a science park extension.
Dr Jeffrey Stern, who belongs to a group of residents against Hes East, said: “There are very few local people who object to University expansion in itself - we are not nimbyists but the University has our back yard already and now it wants to grab another one from the Green Belt that is 20% bigger than the walled city of York. The University could expand on the present campus (only 20% of that land is at present developed) and in the City itself. It certainly should not be on the Green Belt.”
Richard Frost, Chair of the Parish Council, added his support and said: “The village and the University have been accommodating neighbours for 40 years largely without rancour. But there are many major problems with expansion on this scale which will impose an insuperable burden on the existing infrastructure.”
He also explained that he was deeply concerned with the effect of an extra 10,000 people close by a village community of only 750, and condemned the lack of adequate consideration of alternatives by the University.
Heslington East plans continue to be a hotly debated issue, and thanks to concerns from Nouse, the SU and Heslington residents, the decision is now in the hands of senior planning inspectors and not local government officials.
Donald
I can understand the green position on campus 3, but if we don’t expand we could go into decline. I think this is something people have to realise. It wouldn’t be good for us or the village.
Donald
Alcuin College