The university has sparked anger as students in Goodricke college were left without water once again last night.
Residents of Dixon and Janet Baker were left shocked as water was cut off from the taps, showers and toilets without notice.
Students were left without running water for approximately 7 hours, with many students claiming to be without water for upto 14 hours.
Derwent FM, the contractor which provides cleaning and maintenance services for Goodricke, has come under fire in the past for failing students.
Tara Annison, Goodricke JCRC Chair, told Vision: “The fact it has happened again really highlights that whatever the problem was last year has not been fully tended to. Goodricke JCRC has continued to push the university for the compensation which should have been given to students effected last year and will now push the university further to now compensate students who have been effected this year.
Students paying in excess of £120 a week should not be living in accommodation where water is in short supply or inaccessible.
As a JCRC we will continue to fight for the compensation Goodricke students deserve and make sure that the university stops ignoring our demands!”
Hugh Oatts, Goodricke JCRC Secretary said: “We’re going to push for the complaints to be referred to the Compensation Panel, which was supposed to happen last time, and get residents their long overdue compensation.”
Annison further added: “[The university] really didn’t handle it well last time at all so this time i’m not letting them get away with it! After all, Langwith got £50 each for their heating being too high,”.
The shortage follows news that ongoing issues could be settled at a University appeals panel in November – after officials refused to accept responsibility for the matter.
YUSU Welfare and Community Officer George Offer, who sits on the compensation panel, previously announced he was seeking a review of the issue when University top bosses said the situation was “out of their control.”
Kallum Taylor, YUSU President added: “”I don’t think it’s alarmist or unfair to suggest that this problem – with its coming and going – is pretty embarrassing for the University and really not ideal for the students affected. We’ll be looking into it.”
The problems, spanning back to October 2012, have involved two investigations to date.
The first, launched in November 2012, was triggered following an issue with the mains system not supplying water.
The second was launched in May 2013 after reports of a seizure in the valves causing problems with water pressure.
The cause of the last night’s water shortage is not yet known. More to follow.
Déjà vu right here… Lets hope the University’s response comes within the 28 day limit this time rather than 133 days like last time…
“Students were left without running water for approximately 7 hours.”
For our room in Kenneth Dixon, our water supply was cut for 14 hours. Stopped at about 5pm and came back on at 7:30am.
As I had not anticipated the drought, a collection of dirty dishes meant that I had to eat my dinner out of a microwaveable freezer bag (with great difficulty given that they are not as fork-accessible as plates). I also ate more biscuits as a result, which has meant my jeans are now tighter than usual. It is now uncomfortable to sit down in the library, and has therefore had an adverse impact on my studies.
If residents get compensation this time I hope residents from last year also get theirs!
In fairness 7 hours ain’t that much of a drag? I can’t vada what all these omipalones are angry about.
I suppose that’s true. I think the problem is more the fact that it’s happened again after all the trouble that Goodricke had last year.
Whilst the situation last year merits attention, the temporary water shortage affecting Goodricke on this occasion was anomalous, and unrelated to previous problems (according to Derwent FM and the Goodricke College maintainence staff). The problem, which has unfortunately been overdramatised, was, on this occasion, resolved efficiently by diligent staff who responded immediately. Thankfully, it occurred at a time when 80% of college residents were absent; moreover, no student was left without some access to water in whatever capacity (e.g kitchens). Personally, I believe the incident demonstrates the efficacy with which staff teams can respond to sometimes inevitable circumstances.
This has proven to be fantastic for business; I have witnessed what can only be described as the “panic buying” of bottled water and presume that it has been prompted by your water shortages. Particular favourites include Buxton and Highland Spring, although Evian and Volvic have been boycotted, potentially indicating a new political aspect introduced to the fiasco through the avoidance of French-owned multinational Danone’s brands. Actimel sales remain consistent.
I definitely did not have any water at all (hence the over-dramatised fork/jeans problems), however it doesn’t take much effort to fill a kettle up in LMB. #moveon #soznotsoz #bigupderwentFM