Students ‘moved out’ to make room for science festival

Source: Alamy

Bradford said that some of the rooms will be used by academics and festival staff, but that cleaning and repairs will also be taking place over the summer ahead of the next new student intake.

The Green, a £40 million student village, accommodates 1,026 students at Bradford’s campus.

The accommodation was sold to an unnamed investor represented by a Dubai-based firm in 2013 for an undisclosed sum, but is managed by the university.

The university is hosting the British Science Association’s Science Festival between 7 and 10 September.

An email sent to students on 20 March by an accommodation services manager at the university says: “Unfortunately, due to the high demand for accommodation over the summer period this year, we can only accommodate residents who wish to stay with us over the summer and through into the next academic year.”

It offers students the chance to apply for alternative accommodation at nearby Arkwright Hall.

Kellen Phillips is on a 51-week master’s course at Bradford and has been told he will have to move out of The Green. “I was directly told that the science festival is taking priority and they are not letting us stay but they are letting people from the science festival stay instead,” he said.

He knew that his current accommodation contract would expire in July. But he said that he was told when he applied that the university had offered extended contracts over the summer for students in previous years.

“Legally they are right; morally I think it is wrong because we are here to focus on our studies,” he added.

Chris Spargo, head of commercial services at the University of Bradford, said that a number of students are accommodated at The Green over the summer, but it “cannot guarantee to meet every student’s requirements”.

holly.else@tesglobal.com