Ambleside students picket university chiefs over campus (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Ambleside students picket university chiefs over campus

5:03pm Wednesday 16th December 2009 in

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ANGRY students took their fight against campus closure at Ambleside to those behind the controversial decision today.

Pupils travelled north to Carlisle where the University of Cumbria’s academic board met to discuss, among other items, the proposed mothballing of the South Lakeland site and axing of undergraduate provision.

Ahead of the meeting, vice chancellor Peter McCaffery listened to protestors who had marched through the streets carrying a makeshift coffin daubed with ‘RIP Ambleside’ and ‘relocate your dreams’ – a pun on the university’s motto ‘bring your dreams’.

He told the crowd of more than 40 students: “We are between a rock and a hard place.

"We will do everything we can to ensure we minimise disruption to you and our studies. We have considered all other options available.”

Early years teaching student Becky Hugill, 18, travelled up from Ambleside for the protest. Her course could move to Lancaster.

She said: “I didn’t apply to Lancaster, I applied to Ambleside. I wanted to get a degree from Charlotte Mason College of Teaching.

"In our spare time we can go kayaking or climbing. In Lancaster it wouldn’t be the same.”

University of Cumbria NUS president Emma Green was present in the board meeting.

Before it, she said: “I hope we can make a difference. We have a lot of support from everyone in the community.”

Vice president of the NUS Richard Budden travelled from London to show his support.

He said: “Why should students miss out because the university has mismanaged its money?”

An online petition against the plans has been signed by 4,000 people, while 2,000 people have written to the university with reasons for objection.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron said: “If they do not consider these objections individually, I will want to know why.”