FROM FEBRUARY 17, 2006 KINGSTON

University was monopolising cheaper housing stock in the borough, causing massive waiting lists for council tenants, claimed a borough councillor.

The problem came to light at a Kingston council community leadership and resources overview panel.

Councillors had held a meeting with the university to discuss its role in the community, and the housing situation was highlighted as one of serious concern.

Many thought that developers and landlords were giving priority to student housing that they could build or maintain cheaply but charge high rents for.

Norbiton councillor Steve Mama said: “One of the things that’s been worrying us in the town centre is the student accommodation.

“The lack of accommodation especially provided by the university is having a major impact on how we crack our own housing needs. Our housing stock is below 5,000 and we have more than 5,000 on the waiting list.”

The meeting heard about the university’s previous attempts to up its quota of student accommodation by applying to build a 1,000-bedroom student village in Lower Marsh Lane, an application which was refused twice by councillors.

The university said it recognised the lack of affordable housing in the Kingston area, particularly for key workers, but said there was also a well-documented lack of university housing.

It added that it is working with Kingston council through the Local Development Framework to address the problem.

Vice-chancellor for strategic development Dr Ken Hopkins said it was doing a critical evaluation of its estate as part of the New University Project.

He said: “The increased provision of purpose-designed and managed student residences in reasonable proximity to our campuses would certainly reduce pressure on the private rental market and be much more compatible with the needs of the university’s neighbours.

“For this reason we would be interested in any opportunities that arose for the development of student accommodation and will continue to work closely with Kingston council to find environmentally sustainable solutions to our student housing needs for the wider benefit of the local community.”

University governor and council leader Cllr Derek Osbourne said: “We have had a number of meetings with the university.

“I think There have been real errors made over the years with the university, the council and residents groups.”

FROM FEBRUARY 17, 2006

The chaotic web of antennae and masts on the roof of Kingston College looked set to get even more snarled unless neighbours got their way. Consultation over mobile phone firm Hutchison 3G’s plans to install three antennae, three dishes and radio equipment on top of the Kingston Hall Road building ended. Nearby residents held a protest against the proposals.

FROM FEBRUARY 22, 1991

Almost £30,000 was spent painting school notice boards in the borough blue. Conservative council leader Paul Clokie admitted that ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ was being spent turning the cream boards royal blue and adding the borough’s logo. The Liberal Democrats criticised the expense that came in the same week the council slashed the library service budget.

FROM FEBRUARY 23, 1966

Surbiton fire crews were called to a distraught toddler who got his finger stuck in an adding machine. Firefighters rushed to Lovelace Lane to rescue two-year-old David Watt after his mother and her neighbours had been trying to free his finger for several hours. David was giving a toy fire engine by firefighters to make him feel better after the ordeal.