Twickenham Teachers Training Department under Threat from 'Asset Stripping'

3.27.00pm GMT Mon 10th Mar 2003

Students and staff at Brunel University's teacher training department on its Twickenham campus have written to MP Vincent Cable to warn him that high quality teaching training is being jeopardised while the University engages in 'asset stripping' to raise money (an estimated £38 million) from the sale of the site for a housing development.

The students and staff say that buildings are being rundown or

moth-balled; rooms are seriously over crowded; student facilities are being closed.

A ludicrous situation has arisen where a lot of photocopying for the Twickenham campus has to be carried out at Uxbridge.

Staff can no longer gain access to IT facilities. There is growing fear that the department will simply be closed and not transferred as planned to Uxbridge.

Vincent Cable said: "It is a matter of serious concern when one of the best faculties presenting the next generation of teachers, may of whom go into the borough;s schools, is in such trouble."

"The University also seems to be jumping the gun; the developer has not has not been given planning permission by the council and it may be refused".