Freshers in Holiday Inn after room crisis

Bleachfields: Still not ready

By Andy Dolan

Contractors failed to finish construction at the Bleachfields site off University Road, which was to house incoming Vanbrugh students, and renovation of Langwith A block.

They are developing in phases and some students will not able to move in until as late as January. The disruption has shifted forty-seven Langwith first years to the Holiday Inn near York Racecourse, almost four miles from campus.

Joanne Burrows, a History student who is staying at the Holiday Inn, said: "They told me about five days beforehand that we were going to do this but I don't think some people got the letter until the day before."

"It's very inconvenient, I haven't had a chance to organise all my stuff. I always have to be somewhere to get a bus or get a coach or something, you can't just go back whenever you want. I wouldn't say it's helped me settle in."

The University declined to confirm the cost of lodging the students at the Holiday Inn. Unforeseen difficulties with fire safety and electrical rewiring are believed to have delayed the redevelopment of kitchens in the forty year old Langwith building.

A University spokesman said: "Students' welfare is our paramount concern. The University has put contingency plans in place to deal with the situation."

"Rooms in temporary accommodation are organised so that students are grouped with those who will become their neighbours. For those students in hotel accommodation, free transport and meals are being provided and they will be supported by tutors staying in the hotel.

Affected student Burrows added: "The way they have organised the transport is good. The amount of time they've had to do it I think they've done a good job of it."

Vanbrugh first years are now dotted around campus and some may not move in before Christmas. Two blocks at the Bleachfields are finished and another is expected before the end of October.

But forty-eight first years cannot move in until mid-November and building work on another two blocks will go on until early next year. Officials blamed last summer's wet weather for "severe delays."

Sub-contractors are said to have focused on "lucrative" repair work after devastating floods hit the north-east in June and July.

Lauren Cox, a Vanbrugh first year now staying in National Science Learning Centre accommodation, said: "We've got no internet here and it sets us back if we've got any work to do but they are pretty nice rooms. The internet was the only thing I was bothered about; I don't think older people understand how much it matters."

Henry Smith, a third year PEP student who suffered disruption in academic year 05/06, said: "I was meant to be in Alcuin K block but I was put in the National Science learning centre accommodation. In hindsight I would make more fuss because it was really annoying. You couldn't really unpack because then you had to move two weeks later to your new block."

The University would not reveal whether the contract with developers Morgan Ashurst contains stipulations on completion dates.

A spokesman said they had done as much as possible in difficult circumstances: "The University is doing everything possible to make sure that the affected students are able to access Freshers' activities, to start their academic work satisfactorily, and enjoy their first weeks in York as much as their colleagues."

YUSU President Anne-Marie Canning added that the University "acted really responsibly" and "have done the best they can."

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