Vox Pop-Residents Would Back Future Expansion

Further expansion of the University College Falmouth would be a positive move according to 70% of local residents following a recent survey conducted by a University College Falmouth student.

The university would be looking to expand to around 4000 students by 2012 in order to claim full university status, potentially creating many jobs and giving a major boost to the local economy.

Many residents agreed the potential influx would be most beneficial to many local traders and businesses, especially in and around Penryn where there are few large chain stores.

Many local traders, mostly pub landlords and takeaway owners cited students as being a large majority of their customers, and some independent grocers said many students would prefer to buy locally grown produce as opposed to shopping at supermarkets.

“Falmouth has a very diverse range of people and an extremely eclectic music and arts scene. If more young people were to come here and add to that diversity then that can only be a positive thing,” said Penryn resident Cathy Richardson.

Although many residents also voiced their concerns over a possible lack of housing and an increase in noise pollution.

“Last year four students lived in the house next door and they were constantly having parties, playing loud music late at night and generally being quite inconsiderate.

"The new lot seem to be much better but the experience has tarnished my view of students. I certainly wouldn’t want other people to have to deal with what we went through,” said Dennis Wilkinson of Falmouth.

Only a few cases of students struggling to find accommodation have been reported, but with the potential of an additional 1500 students pressure on landlords and estate agents to provide affordable student housing would dramatically increase.