UNIVERSITY officials have launched a robust defence of their attitude towards Ambleside residents after coming under attack on two fronts.

Ambleside Civic Trust’s vice-chairman Tim Brown claimed the university’s return to the Lakes had been on its own terms.

And Marj Waddecar, events secretary of the Friends of the Armitt Museum, said that a university information board contained incorrect information about Charlotte Mason, founder of the college which preceded the university.

But a university spokesperson hit back, saying: “It is important that Westmorland Gazette readers get the true picture about the university’s development plans and the investment it is providing to the area rather than taking cognisance to ‘hearsay’ and inaccurate, false and ill-informed information emanating from a small group whose views are in no way representative of the whole Ambleside community.”

The comments came at the Ambleside Civic Trust’s AGM where Mr Brown said: “Something must be done to get the university to come together with residents to consult and approve, rather than them just saying: ‘We’re a business and we’ll do what we want’.”

But the spokesperson said regular Ambleside Community Liaison Group meetings are held to engage with a range of local partners.

Mr Brown said the university was seeking to widen the terms agreed with the Greenbank and Castlefield Residents’ Association stipulating restrictions on vehicle use of the northern access.

The spokesperson said this was not true, adding: “In fact, our protocols are stricter than the planning and deed requirements. We have recently sought a revision to change the emergency protocol.”

Mr Brown also claimed the university had not kept to the plans for the disposal of surplus properties and the building of student accommodation blocks.

Three properties – Gregory, Lower Gale and Springfield – have been sold and have two remaining sites – Hill Top and Kelsick Grammar – are still to be sold, said the university spokesperson.

She also addressed claims that it was getting its own way because the Lake District National Park Authority was too willing to “cosy up to them.”

“Accusations that the LDNPA permits us to do whatever we want are completely unfounded,” she added.

“In order to comply with strict planning requirements found in a conservation area and national park, the cost of our new student residences is well in excess of what it might have been if built in a town or city.”

Meanwhile, Ms Waddecar told Lakes Parish Council that an information board on Rydal Road contained minimal information about Charlotte Mason and the year of her birth was also wrong.

Also the name of Miss Mason’s friend Selena Heeley appears incorrectly as Selena Heelis outside the Heelis Room. Another issue involved the loss of the Wordsworth Steps, which occurred during recent building work.

She said: “The university’s approach has changed the community’s original welcome to cynicism and dismay.”

The university spokesperson said a new sign will ‘be put in place in the very near future’ and that research surrounding the history of the Wordsworth Steps is also being carried out and will be addressed.