Deal to safeguard Aberystwyth's Welsh language halls is sealed as hunger strike is called off
The University Council has drawn up a timetable for Pantycelyn to be reopened and temporary measures
Protestor Ffred Ffransis, right, member of the Welsh Language Society, pictured with students on the roof
A deal to safeguard the future of a Welsh language hall of residence at Aberystwyth University has been sealed.
Accommodation at Pantycelyn will close at the end of this academic term.
But there were protests about the long-term future of Welsh medium accommodation at the university.
The University’s Council has approved a resolution for designated Welsh medium accommodation and the future of Pantycelyn at Aberystwyth.
The resolution, passed on Monday, includes provision for Welsh medium accommodation to be provided elsewhere while work is completed on the historic building.
Protesters called off hunger strike
Students holding a sit-in protest over the closure called off a hunger strike after the university pledged to reopen it in four years.
From September Welsh medium accommodation will be provided in Fferm Penglais and Penbryn.
There will be continued use of social spaces in Pantycelyn for Welsh medium clubs, societies and Union of Welsh Language Students (UMCA), and the relocation of Welsh language support services to Pantycelyn.
Meanwhile, the university will draw up detailed plans for the provision of “fit-for-the-future Welsh medium accommodation”.
The council asked that the brief is for “excellent Welsh medium accommodation and social spaces, good for 40 years” to be available by April 30, 2016 and staff, students and the community are consulted.
A final report including “a clear, costed design” will have to go before the University Council.
Any application has to take into account issues including funding, permission and changes that are needed to the listed building, according to the resolution.
Concerns over lack of timetable
The historic halls were once home to Prince Charles for a term in 1969. In later years, One Show presenter Alex Jones was also a resident.
Students have spent a week protesting, after the college reneged on a decision not to close the building.
Protesters raised concerns that no timetable was provided for reopening the Welsh medium hall of residence.
Teaching staff, in a statement released last week, called on the university to give a “clear commitment” to Welsh-medium student accommodation.
Around 50 Welsh-speaking staff met to discuss the move, and said the college must “act now”, with the decision having “significant implications” for student recruitment.
Staff said the university was putting Welsh-medium teaching and administration jobs at risk, and called on bosses to state “unequivocally” that Pantycelyn would continue as a Welsh-language hall of residence in the long-term.
'Extremely important'
Gwilym Tudur, chair of the Pantycelyn branch of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said: “There's no doubt that the campaign has been an inspiration for people right across Wales and beyond.
These halls are extremely important, not only to the students, but to the state of the Welsh language nationally. It's clear that the the model succeeds in producing confident Welsh language speakers who are really needed by our nation.
"We are pleased to the hear that there is certainty over the funding and timetable for reopening the halls as a result of the fantastic campaign.
"Everyone now needs to keep a very close eye on the University to ensure they keep their promises, not only out of respect for our rich heritage, but for the benefit of the Welsh language and the next generation of students."