Here is an opportunity to help shape the future of the
university’s estates. Please make further suggestions to your departmental
union rep, or to Mike Corlett (UNISON) (zre@aber.ac.uk), Wynne Ebenezer (UNITE)
(ebe@aber.ac.uk) or Geoff Constable (UCU Health Safety and Environment)
(ccc@aber.ac.uk).
The Health, Safety and Environment Representative of
UCU is representing the three campus unions on the Estates Strategy
Steering Group. A meeting of the group was held on 24th October and
a very positive draft of the Estates Development Department was presented which
has ambitious plans for the future development of all of the University’s
campuses and key places. It sets out the drivers, objectives and guiding
principles of Estates Development and going forward there is likely to be a monitoring
/advisory group which will include representatives of campus trades unions and
the students’ guild.
Unions have been asked to submit a vision of the campus as
we would like to see it in the future (up to 25 years into the future!). It is
difficult to do this without a framework of funding or any contextual
information such as what will be taught, what institutional changes will have
taken place and what technological developments will have come to fruition. But
it is still – presumably - safe to make assumptions that there will be a mix of
undergraduates, post-graduates, teaching in various forms, and research on all
campuses.
We are in touch with the physical state of the buildings and
the campuses open areas and woodlands, etc. every day of our working lives and
we should be able to make a list of our priorities, which could include the
mundane right through to the visionary.
From the limited discussions held with members thus far the
main priorities emerging are for:
1. Refurbishment
and modernisation of buildings, teaching spaces and laboratories, that have
fallen into disrepair or dilapidated condition and present a poor environment
in which to work and learn. Buildings include: Edward Llwyd, Llandinam,
Physical Sciences… Are they all suitable for refurbishment or are there cases
where it would be preferable to demolish and build something else (if so,
what?)
2. A
short term measure that would improve all teaching areas would be an audit of
blinds and curtains and replacement of all those that do not work. This need
not wait until there is more major refurbishment.
3. Introduction
of large scale deployment of energy generation installations (roof-top solar
panels, solar panel farms, windmills on campuses) – as well as the deployment
of technology to make buildings more ‘intelligent’ in their use of energy.
Perhaps these could be tied to teching and/or research?
4. Improvement
to the ‘square’ in front of the Arts Centre – something that moves it away from
a 1950’s Eastern bloc appearance to something that is more cheerful, colourful,
green (in all senses) and useful.
5. Provision
of safe routes between campuses, suitable for walking and cycling.
Please
can you consult with your colleagues and make more suggestions for large and
small scale projects that you feel should be undertaken to make the
University’s estates (including Old College, the Farms, Pantycelyn) more fit
for purpose in the 2020’s?
In addition, the University has created a more short term
“Make a difference” fund (£10,000 per annum) for improvements to grounds.
What
should this be used for? Suggestions:
- more benches and picnic tables along main routes and more secluded areas;
- covered walkway between the Arts Centre steps and Sports Centre/Llandinam Building;
- tidying up of the side of the sports ground behind Physics (replace metal fencing with wooden);
- improved white line painting on car parks
- more covered, lockable bicycle sheds near to buildings for staff what else?
