Union reveals building_plans for LCR and Village By OWEN THOMAS
UNION BOSSES have unveiled ambitious new plans to transform key parts of campus with a £700,000 spending spree spread over the next three years. A new look for the LCR, better facil ities in th e V illage. and improvements to the Uni on's shops in the Street ha ve all been budgeted a~ part or the millennium upgrade. Up to £150,000 may be spent we've budgeted such a large amount We may have to put up transforming the LCR , knocking a new building ," explained Neil. through dividing walls between But the first project to get off the Graduate Students Association (GSA) , NEXUS TV the ground will be changes to and the venue to create an upper The Street - which will place this summer. bar and balcony. The Union is splashing out Capacity £100,000 on renovating its shops to improve the service to Union Finance Officer, Neil students. Fox , revealed, "We want to "We want to extend the Post increase the capacity of the LCR , and it would be a good for Office so it is the same size as disabled students, because they the other outlets , so we can expand our range of could watch gigs from their seats. "We could also have another merchandise and make the shop accessible," said Neil. bar up there," he added. "We're also looking at ways of But the plans hang on finding a making the layout of the Paper new home for the GSA - which Shop better." could prove difficult - and the Union has been forced to Questions prepare an alternative , less Students have generally amibitious version of the balcony the plans, but welcomed plan. Another key item on the questioned whether they were the best use of Union cash . shopping list is a £250,000 new "Maybe putting a balcony in social centre for students living in the LCR will bring back some the University Village. atmosphere, but it's not really a Pub and Shops priority ," said Barbara Sands (WAM3). The Union want UEA bosses And Village residents are to hand over Earlham Lodge, currently used by the Staff concerned that they could end up Association , for conversion into a isolated if a social centre is built. "lt could end up really cliquey pub and shops. "Earlham Lodge would be we 're already too divided from campus ," said Allwyn O'Dwyer ideal , but it is already used for {HIS 1). other purposes , which is why