Furious residents say window bars could create fire dangt_r By SARAH HOOKES
Angry residents of Norfolk and Suffolk Terrace are claiming that their rooms have been made more dangerous by work that was supposed to improve 路 safety. The students are furious that metal bars fitted to windows cut off access to a potenti all y li fesaving fire escape route on to the residences' roofs. And they also claim that measures to to discuss the problems, but insists that they prevent the windows being opened more than had no choice but to fit the bars. 45cm will transform their rooms in to ovens "We explained the situation, and we are by dramatically reducing ventilation in the now in an unavoidable position where we summer months. have to stop access to the roof," claimed University Estates staff began fitting the Accommodation Manager, Lawrence Daly. bars last summer following pressure from the Last year campus bosses fitted mesh Government's Health and Safety Executive to screens to windows to try and stop students slash the number of accidents on campus. venturing onto the terraces, but abandoned them alter residents simply removed them Petition at a cost of 拢1 0,000. "Clearly the blinds were not doing the job, B4t now students have presented a 340signature petition to accommodation chiefs and another solution had to found urgently or demanding that they look at the issue again, we would have been prosecuted by the and accusing them of riding roughshod over HSE," said Mr Daly. student opinion. But residents still believe that the "They've failed to directly address University are over-reacting and should let residents at every point," railed Jeremy Hardy students take responsibility for themselves. (LLT 4), who helped organise the protest. Several students were turfed out of their Other news: rooms without warning earlier this month to - EAS Clark slams students' have the measures fitted , while others literacy skills 3 returned alter Christmas to find the bars Constable noise 'torture' 8 freshly installed. The biggest anxiety, though, is the removal of a fire escape on to the roofs. 'We're all mature adults, we don't need the "If there was a fire in the corridor, there's bars. it's just common sense," reasoned no way to get out," worried Annika Eburt Mara Friedland (WAM 2). (LLT1). l:mma Price (MTH 3) was similarly The character of the rooms has also been unmoved. ruined, according to some students. "There are plenty of other places on ''The bars are so constricting . lt feels like campus that are more dangerous than those I'm in a prison ," complained Natalie Batcock roofs - we could fall off the narrow walkways, (SOC4). but you don't see them worrying about that." The University has now met with students - See Leaders, page 9