Maritime Studios is the only accommodation in Falmouth that allows students their own space without isolating them. People choose it for various reasons, from just being more comfortable in their own space to mental health problems. However, Falmouth University is now planning a long-term lease that would make Maritime available to first years only. This isn't acceptable, not only because current students should not have to suffer the effects of the university’s choices, but because of the nature of Maritime.

The high likelihood of this happening has only just been confirmed to current tenants via FXU, not even the university – despite some of us enquiring since December – and since we had no reason to expect this, most of us have missed out on sharing with friends and finding the next best alternative accommodation. At the very least, current tenants should be allowed to stay next year for this reason, though this still isn’t ideal since future second and third years will need Maritime just as much.

The mental health of students who’ve chosen Maritime for that reason will be impacted and their performance at university affected. The university’s late decision on this makes things even worse as most will be thrown in to live with strangers.

Second and third years are struggling to find accommodation in general, with the university taking more new students each year than Falmouth has room for. It shouldn’t be happening in the first place – let alone with places like Maritime that are specific and the only option for many people.

I will pass this petition on to the university and FXU in the hope that the uni will reconsider their decision.