Compensation for sleep-deprived students

by Emily Hewett

Essex University is set to pay out almost £175,000 a term in compensational rent reductions to students after months of disruption from campus building work.

Almost 400 undergraduates are set to receive £500 per term in compensation "in recognition of the disruption they have suffered" due to building work starting as early as 7am.

Students living in the North Towers, at the Wivenhoe Park Campus, will receive the largest amounts of compensation, while another 56 students that live slightly further away are expected to recieve £100 per term.

Norwegian international student, Iris Bolstad, complained the noise left him ''exhausted''.

The 19-year-old said: “Sometimes I like a lie-in until noon, but if I try to do that now, I get woken up again and again. It also makes it difficult to study in your own room.”

The payouts follow an anti-noise demonstration by the Essex University Students' Union in March.

Mark Bergfeld, Campaigns Officer at Essex Students’ Union said: “It was important students voiced their concerns because the university seems to think they won’t mind about all the noise and disruption."

“Although the compensation is good and will be appreciated by students, who are under financial pressure, we are still worried the noise will continue during the exam period in May and June.”

The £5 million building project, creating 20 new teaching rooms, began in September 2009 and will be ready in time for the new students this autumn.

Outrage

While the university’s decision to compensate their students has been welcomed by the students’ union, the payouts have outraged locals.

Colchester residents have written to their local newspaper, The Daily Gazette to complain. One resident commented: “What an absolute joke! Student drinkers used to keep us awake until 4am with their drunken antics on a Tuesday and Thursday night.

"We did not get compensation and both the council and the police did nothing about it."

Another resident commented: “Knowing some students, as I do - and their loud anti-social behaviour - £500 to keep them asleep would seem to be an agreeable sum."

Vicky Passingham, spokeswoman for the University said: “In recognition of the disruption, the university has agreed to give £500 per room compensation to those living in Rayleigh and Keynes Towers, and £100 to students living in Wolfson Court.

“This follows £25 goodwill payments made to all north campus residents before Christmas after disruption to electricity, Internet access and water supplies."