FEARS that historic Welsh-language halls at Aberystwyth University will be used as long-term staff offices are “unfounded”, the institution has said.

A group battling for the reopening of the currently closed Neuadd Pantycelyn on Penglais Hill said they were “concerned about recent developments” at the building, which has seen over £4,000 being spent to house the university’s Estates­ Department in the halls’ canteen.

A Freedom of Information request made by the Ffrindiau Pantycelyn group shows that the university spent £4,382.11 on changes to Pantycelyn whilst adapting the canteen into offices, including locks, electrical sockets, signage, reconfiguring the kitchen and repainting the canteen and car park.

Manon Elin, a student and member of Ffrindiau Pantycelyn, said: “We are unhappy with the way the Estates Department has put locks on the hall, and taken additional rooms, without consulting anyone. Pantycelyn is our hall, not the university’s hall.

“Since this expenditure is not connected to the plan to reopen Pantycelyn, we very much hope that the money came from the Estates Department fund, and not from the fund to revamp and reopen Pantycelyn.”

An Aberystwyth University spokesperson said: “The new vice-chancellor of Aberystwyth University, Prof Elizabeth Treasure, has confirmed her support for plans to reopen Pantycelyn as quality halls of residence for Welsh-speaking students in September 2019.

“The project timetable is on track while work continues on securing the necessary funding. Following consultation with the Welsh students’ union UMCA, our Estates Development Department is using some of the vacant rooms on the ground-floor for a temporary period of six months and will move to a permanent location on Penglais campus in autumn 2017.”

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