Abertay Uni V Dundee City Council

[4273stuart]

A CONTROVERSIAL move by Abertay University to pastures new in the aftermath of a refusal by Dundee City Council to approve a new £18 million student halls

The threat from Abertay erupted in the wake of a failed planning application for the proposed 500-bed accommodation block in Parker Street, despite the fact the university had been directed to the site by city council planning officials, who also recommended approval.

Professor Nicholas Terry, Abertay’s deputy principal, shocked academics, students and councillors earlier this week when he said that should the university come to the conclusion that its best interests were served by looking for a location outside Dundee, he had every confidence the university would have the courage to take that decision.

Further, he disclosed that Abertay had already sounded out Perth and Kinross and Fife councils as well as local enterprise companies about moving to these areas.

Several sites had been identified in and around Perth, and in Fife the university would consider locations in the Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Leven triangle.

[4273stuart]

Dont know what the council are playing at saying hey built it here yes there will be no problems then saying no cant build there.

[4273stuart]

After hearing about the whole story read a letter a gentleman had written to the courier

Sir,—The report that Abertay University may move out of Dundee cheered me up considerably. For years past the centre of the city has been swallowed up by the universities—tearing the heart out of the city and exiling Dundonians to the outskirts, with all the expenses of travel etc.

Successive city councils have allowed this to happen as it gave an air of importance to the city—prestigious buildings and direction signs.

Now it seems they are to be blackmailed into acceding to the idea of more housing space being swallowed up by Abertay, in addition to the more essential Dundee University, which does more than enough to enhance the standing of Dundee internationally.

Think of all the central housing that has been lost to “student accommodation” while the folk who pay these institutions are sent out to the wilderness. And the parking spaces, which householders could enjoy if the supposedly hard-up students had their own little cities on the outskirts of Dundee (or elsewhere).

I would ask that you do not print my name and address if you decide to use this letter.

Name and address
supplied.

[4273stuart]

what do you reckon to the above?

[RealR]

I for one am glad they won't be building right across from my flat so its all good for me

Edit: With regards to them moving the plan miles away, well i don't think thats a good move. Students generally don't have huge reserves of money to be spending on transport.

Surely they'd be best finding somewhere else and doing it up?

[andrewforce5]

where's parker street? it maybe just doesn't suit the 10 year plan of the council. they're moving things around a lot in the coming years, they maybe need that spot for something else

[RealR]

Parker Street is just by Abertay. The building was gonna be at roundabout on top of marketgate underneath dudhope park. At moment just grenery and an old shed like building.

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by 4273stuart

A CONTROVERSIAL move by Abertay University to pastures new in the aftermath of a refusal by Dundee City Council to approve a new £18 million student

that must be one clever dude.

[PrettyPumpkin]

That's what I was thinking...

[4273stuart]

if it was part of their 10 year plan why reckomend it in first place. does anybody have anything to say about the letter

[Ritchie Ramone]

Originally Posted by 4273stuart

does anybody have anything to say about the letter

You didn't happen to write the letter yourself, did you?

Whatever the case, I think it's overly dramatic. Phrases like "tearing the heart out of the city" are pretty ludicrous, given the amount of money and opportunities both universities have brought to the area, as well as the knock-on effects such as the improvement of the so-called 'cultural quarter' and the city's increasing academic profile.

However, I think Abertay's current threat to the Council is nothing more than that - an attempt to frighten them into giving the University what they want. I believe that moving Abertay to either Perth or Kirkcaldy would only be a backwards step and wouldn't do them any favours on any level.

[Lazzaro]

I definitely cant afford to go and live in perth

[4273stuart]

[quote=Ritchie Ramone]You didn't happen to write the letter yourself, did you?QUOTE]

No i did not write the letter (the spelling is to good) I just found it really really shocking its like reading BNP propoganda but with students instead

[gotad_clarey]

Originally Posted by Lazzaro

I definitely cant afford to go and live in perth

andy share a flat with me next year if your planning on moving out, i have a pare room and we will both be students so cheap as fuck rent!

yuuuussss!!

please?