Fears young people could miss out after uni move

Young people in Shropshire could miss out on the chance of a university education when the University of Chester leaves its base at Shrewsbury's Guildhall, it has been claimed.

Shropshire Council said the university could no longer use the building rent-free and has asked it to leave in the autumn.

But councillor Heather Kidd said it would be bad for the town's economy if there was an exodus to universities elsewhere.

She said a solution should have been in place before the announcement was made.

The university has said it is looking for alternative ways to teach its students in the county, but Ms Kidd said she believed many would be forced to quit.

The Liberal Democrat, who represents Chirbury and Worthen, also said: "We lose so many of them to other universities, they get jobs away and they don't come back until middle age or until they retire."

She agreed it was right the council had insisted the university should "begin to pay its way", but added: "We should be making a real effort to keep degree-level students in the town."

She hoped a compromise could be found.

Ms Kidd said studying in Shrewsbury suited a lot of people in Shropshire.

Heather Davies from Stiperstones said her daughter Ruth loved studying at the Guildhall.

Mrs Davies explained she had a young baby at the time and would not have been able to go away to study.

She said her daughter "wouldn't have been able to achieve this unless she could stay at home and travel into town".

Mrs Davies believes many other young women were in a similar situation and said she was horrified and "really cross" at the announcement.

"I really applaud ambitious young people that want to develop a career, we should be encouraging them," she said.

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