{"id":32057,"date":"2019-02-08T14:28:40","date_gmt":"2019-02-08T14:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=32057"},"modified":"2019-02-08T14:28:40","modified_gmt":"2019-02-08T14:28:40","slug":"luxury-student-flats-add-to-residents-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2019\/02\/08\/luxury-student-flats-add-to-residents-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"Luxury student flats add to residents\u2019 concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

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‘Whoever thought to put students with people that have children should come and experience it’<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cathays resident Carol Bennison believes a lack of thought is given to people who have lived in an area for a long time before such properties are built.
\nShe said: \u201cI am all for high-rise student accommodation, but it should be away from other residents.
\n\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be subjected to rowdy students on their way into town, who feel it is acceptable to bang on people’s windows and doors.\u201d
\nWhat is clear upon visiting The Neighbourhood is the lengths the staff go to in order to ensure the students, many of whom are foreign, understand the culture.
\nMr Childs said: \u201cWe have a challenge to educate our current students to show respect. From not parking in someone\u2019s permit spot to talking more about recycling and not being too rowdy, it is in all of our interests to get along.\u201d
\nHe says he is not averse to talking to local people regularly.
\n\u201cIt is something that I haven\u2019t seen in Cardiff, where a group of residential managers go to a meeting with local residents and discuss what the issues are.
\n\u201cIf the council are really interested in binding us together, we should meet every six months to allow residents to voice their concerns and understand our operational difficulties.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Can you let your empty rooms to homeless people?’<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Many residents that spoke to us wondered whether such expensive rooms could be filled sufficiently.
\nSue Cole, from Roath, suggested that rooms that were not being used could be used for non-students, particularly the homeless.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve only been open for just over two years, said Mr Childs. \u201cThe first year we filled and we currently have 70 to 80 percent occupancy.
\n\u201cFrom a business perspective it is not in our interests to have any room empty, but unfortunately we have a remit where we have to let to students only. If not we would have to apply for a change of use, which is not easily achievable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Excess rubbish adding to \u2018slum-like\u2019 areas<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A major concern of residents is the amount of rubbish that overflows onto the streets when so many people are living in a relatively small area.
\nHanaa Gailani, who lives in Cathays, said: \u201cThe level of rubbish makes the streets look disgusting.
\n\u201cI think it is because most students are here on a temporary basis and don\u2019t really care how the area looks.\u201d
\nLocal community group Keep Roath Tidy has also raised concerns about the bins being left on the street for over a month, as well as a lack of recycling.<\/p>\n

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4th February and the bins remain. Now attracting a little flytipping. Gates to yard look fully functional (someone using them as I passed). #lovewhereyoulive<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vb3QwpTdwJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Keep Roath Tidy (@KeepRoathTidy) February 4, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n