Here comes the neighbourhood...there go the students (and the economy, and the life...)

Here it is, as promised. Commentisfree didn't want it...and to be fair, it probably just isn't their thing. The Waterfront is also going to have some articles up about it soon.


As reported in the Education Guardian (15/05/2007), a resident's association blames Swansea University students for some messy run-down areas of the city. The situation in Swansea is one which is unfortunately not new; and not uncommon to university towns. But it's also not justified that students should be blamed for all the social problems in their areas.

In my first year at university, being an environmentally-minded young person, I went along to a meeting of a local green group at which I was, admittedly, the only student. Out of interest, I asked them how the university was seen in the community, and they told me that I would probably encounter some hostility and 'nimbyism' towards students. They also told me that without students Swansea would be dead – the 'pretty shitty city' as described in the film Twin Town. Swansea's twelve thousand students bring masses to the city. Not only do they spend thousands of pounds each every year in local businesses in the city and to local landlords, but they also work - usually the unsociable seasonal hours and temporary contracts which locals can't or won't do.

The slur that students are ruining parts of the city is unfair when so many students give so much to the community. For example, I personally know students at Swansea University who work as volunteers with young people through youth and church groups, assist ChildLine and many others who raise money through Swansea's RAG. This society has contributed more than £22,000 to twenty local charities this year alone.

However, all the fund-raising and work for charity aside, student neighbours aren't necessarily bad neighbours. I live in the Sandfields area of Swansea, and it is full of students. It also has families living there, and elderly residents, so you'd expect there to be major complaints over students. But there isn't. No-one seems to know we are here. It's a lovely area, two minutes from the beach, close to town and within walking distance of the university, and living here is almost like stepping thirty years back in time. People here leave their front doors open all day, let their children play in the streets and drink tea whilst leaning against their door frames. As I type this I can hear kids playing outside my window. We do have occasional house parties, but then, so do most people. Although, not often – if I'm honest, we're too busy with our degrees and extra-curricular activities such as the student newspaper to have them much, but even when we have, we've certainly never had any complaints.

The article which prompted me to write this talked of bins put out too late for a collection. Nobody's perfect – some people may have forgotten, but let us not forget that 'too many' bags may mean not all are collected (and as students often live in larger households, there's often more bags per house than would be expected of a nuclear family). There are also complaints if bags are put out too early. Waste collection is not always early in the morning, as most people realise. The residents association must be aware that it is not only students that live in Brynmill and Uplands. As to a further comment; it seems unlikely that students are responsible for builder's rubble. This is more likely to be lazy landlords who do not bother to make their houses presentable as they are 'only' for students. Unfortunately, although there are great landlords in the city, there are, as in all places, bad ones. The lazy landlords are responsible for much of the mess their student residents are blamed for.

Many residents say they are worried about the amount of cars that students bring to university. They seem to assume that all students have cars – but from experience I can tell you this is far from the case. Very few students are prepared to make the financial sacrifices required to keep a car or have parents rich enough, and generous enough, to fund one. Swansea council has made it difficult for students to get permits for vehicles and have created permit only spaces in response. Again, the non-student issue is often ignored – in Sandfields, car parking spaces are scarce during the week – not because of students, but because of commuters who park in the area to go to work in the city centre.

One of the more worrying comments was made by Peter May, a Liberal Democrat councillor, who not only described students as dirty and messy but as vandals as well. His claims rest on knowing when the students are and aren't in the city. However, Swansea has students all year round. Not only does it attract many international students who can't afford to go home much, it also has a large number of students who are also residents of the city, not least because Wales offers special grants for Welsh students who study in their home country. There are also those who genuinely love it here so much they rarely leave.

One thing the students and the residents have in common is the knowledge that Swansea is a wonderful place to be, and many students stay and build their professional lives here. The students of today keep this city afloat, alive and vibrant. They give the city it's prosperity and community and many will be its citizens of tomorrow. Making us feel unwelcome will not improve but damage the city – when all concerned agree it's a fantastic place.