Can I just respond to Peter Johnstone's article in last week's Packet 'thumbs down for student housing'?

It seems to me that the subject of housing the students is currently provoking more heat then light.

I, like AJ Salisbury (who was quoted),definitely think housing students together in properly run purpose built accommodation is the best way. Just do the maths.If we say that the average student house has 3 students in it, then, it would require 40 houses to absorb the numbers one Rosslyn type site could accommodate. That's 40 houses no longer available to the rest of us.

And the lady who was at the meeting and who was quoted saying that the presence of students will devalue houses is just plain wrong. The presence of students in Falmouth has not devalued houses. Quite the opposite. People snapping up properties to rent to students to make money is what has fuelled the dramatic price rises in this town over the last 20 years. All of our houses are now worth far more than they would be and probably should be because of the students. And that is not good. It's a real problem for anyone trying to buy or rent. (Incidentally, the lady quoted said her son lived in Falmouth which suggests she doesn't. Odd that?)

I am not saying there isn't an issue here. There is. Even the students themselves are aware of it (See the previous week's Packet.)But I do think that purpose built housing is part of the answer. A better solution than just surrendering more family homes.

You may have noticed that Falmouth has just been voted the best place to live in the South west in a Sunday Times poll. I couldn't agree more. I love it here.And there's no getting away from the fact the College-now -Uni, and the students, parents, visitors, lecturers and money it brings to the town have had a fantastic positive effect. The housing issue is probably the only real negative. But it can be solved.

I think it is time that Cornwall Council, on our behalf, said no more expansion in student numbers. There has to be a ceiling at some point. It's only common sense and courteous to all of us residents. And I know the Uni hopes for more on campus accommodation which is exactly the right thing to do.

Mark Wilkins

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