Protests erupt as plans to move courses from Lampeter to Carmarthen spark anger among students and locals
Lampeter: There’s a real uproar going on in Lampeter right now. People are super upset about plans to move university courses 20 miles away to Carmarthen. It seems like the university, UWTSD, is saying it just doesn’t make financial sense to keep things running in Lampeter anymore.
They’ve got only 197 full-time students there, and that’s a big drop. The university reported a hefty £11 million deficit last year, which isn’t great. Locals are worried that moving the courses will really hurt the town, and some students feel misled. They didn’t sign up for this kind of change.
It’s a shame because Lampeter has such a rich history. It’s the oldest university college in Wales and England since Oxford and Cambridge, founded way back in 1822. It’s known for its strong programs in subjects like history, philosophy, and creative writing.
UWTSD says they’re not closing the campus entirely, but they want to shift the courses to Carmarthen. They’re hoping to find new ways to use the Lampeter campus, but it sounds like they’ve struggled to attract more students. The costs to keep it running are pretty steep, around £2.7 million a year.
Residents and alumni are not taking this news lightly. Over a hundred people marched through town with signs saying “Save Lampeter campus.” There’s even a petition with over 3,000 signatures calling for a sustainable plan for the campus’s future.
Local leaders are stepping in too. Elin Jones, the MS for Ceredigion, is urging the Welsh Government to help. She believes that without undergraduate teaching, Lampeter would lose its identity as a university town. Ceredigion MP Ben Lake agrees, stressing the importance of keeping the campus alive for the local economy and its historical significance.
The government is aware of the financial struggles universities are facing and is keeping a close eye on the situation. They’re meeting with university leaders regularly to discuss potential support.