Call to create University of Hastings

Peter Chowney SUS-150713-070902001Peter Chowney SUS-150713-070902001
Peter Chowney SUS-150713-070902001

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The leader of Hastings Borough Council has called for the creation of a '˜genuine University of Hastings'.

Peter Chowney said he would work with Sussex Coast College, the University of Brighton, businesses, political leaders, other universities and anyone else who wanted to contribute to ensure Hastings remained a university town.

“If Brighton University are indeed closing their Hastings centre, it’s a devastating blow to the town’s regeneration, especially considering the amount of public money that went into creating a university centre here,” he said.

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“But this must not be the end of a university in Hastings.

“We will be looking to Brighton University to co-operate with us and Sussex Coast College not just to retain some higher education in Hastings, but to create a genuine University of Hastings.

“Hastings has become a university town.

“It must remain a university town.

“I’m determined to work with Sussex Coast College, Brighton University, local businesses, our MP, other universities, and anyone else who wants to contribute, to help us achieve that.”

A statement released by the University of Brighton yesterday failed to respond to students’ claims the campus would close within two years.

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Brighton Students’ Union has called the statement ‘intentionally vague and misleading’.

Local Liberal Democrat Nick Perry described the news as a ‘huge blow’.

“The statement from the university is a huge blow, for sure,” he said.

“It has been good to see an all-party consensus on this issue.

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“But I am afraid that Amber Rudd’s comments smack of rank hypocrisy.

“She has championed the Conservative government for making swingeing cuts in the name of ‘hard-headed economic choices’.

“Sadly, it seems Brighton University is taking the government’s lead, and doing the very same thing. This is what happens, Amber, if you choose to run our education system like a business.”

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