Supporting Student Accommodation

As student representatives, we understand what it's like to live the student life, and that includes living in a house! The Labour Party has the Student Landlord Charter in the manifesto - an agreement that sets out exactly what students can expect of their landlord and vice-versa. This is essential to help restore community relations, because all too often landlord neglect is the cause of friction, rather than students themselves.

It is also paramount that more on-campus accommodation is built to ease pressure on houses in Town. One such development currently going through the City Council's planning procedure is the brand new college destined for Darwin fields which could provide over 500 new accommodation rooms as well as a whole new conference suite providing an extra income for the university.

Some of the objections the council have received are constructive and pertinent, such as concerns over parking, drainage or the stability of the disused tunnel that runs under campus. But other objections are wantonly offensive. The "Blean, Hackington and Tyler Hill Society" object on the basis that it will "increase the student population". Firstly, their point is incorrect. How on earth does building more accommodation equate to an increase in students? Transferring post-grad students to the new Darwin extension will help to relieve the student demand for off-campus housing by around 70, and not serve to increase their number at all. But more importantly, why would somebody object to something they feel might bring more students?

It's about time we had students fighting our corner as elected members of Canterbury City Council!