Portsmouth court

Portsmouth University, whose governors have been criticised by an independent inquiry, is planning to set up a higher court of appeal under the chancellor for board members and possibly other staff.

The plan was announced to staff this week by Stuart Waring, chair of the governors. He was rebuked by the inquiry for the way he dealt with the investigation into the expenses of the former Portsmouth vice chancellor, Neil Merritt, and the "enforced" removal of his deputy, John Pickering.

Mr Waring said that it could provide an internal route of appeal for those concerned about decisions taken by the board of governors.

But the move will not satisfy the Association of University and College Lecturers, which called for the establishment of an ombudsman to address and redress problems faced by universities like Portsmouth.

Bryan Davies, Labour spokes-man on higher education, said a new body should not be a replacement for open and accountable structures. But David Triesman, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers, said new universities really needed a modernised visitor system.