Oct 17, 2007
Fury as Labour and Tories reject student Campus Polling station plea
Students and Liberal Democrats expressed dismay last night after Labour and Tory councillors on Reading Borough Council poured scorn on a petition submitted by Reading University students calling for a polling station on campus. The Liberal Democrat group backed the petition.
Cllr Gareth Epps who introduced an amendment to the Council’s Polling Station Review, calling for the 1000-plus students in the halls on campus (in Church ward) to be able to vote at a campus polling station, said:
“Labour and Tory Councillors have demonstrated a shameful disregard for Reading students. Hundreds of students signed the petition, which was fully supported by Reading University Student Union.
“All they had to offer in return were cheap anti-student jibes and comments that were ignorant. With the future of the current polling station building in some doubt, it is crazy to rule out an obvious option now.”
Cllr Daisy Benson said:
“I have campaigned to give students a voice on issues affecting them in Reading. What kind of message do the Labour and Tory rejection of their petition send out to students living in the town? We will continue to campaign on issues that matter to students – even if the other parties won’t.”
Editor’s Note -
The current polling station used by students living in Halls on the Reading University campus (Reading Borough side), the Scout hall at Northcourt Avenue (Church ward), is potentially the subject of considerable development speculation.
RUSU President, Sally Pearman: 07973503401
Cllr Gareth Epps: 07950035836
