THE HISTORIC Pantycelyn hall of residence at Aberystwyth University could be made safe for almost a third of the cost university chiefs said was required, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

It was reported in the Cambrian News last month that a report by independent consultants Old Bell 3 concluded the building should be kept as an accommodation and social space for Welsh language students at Aberystwyth University.

And they called on works to be completed “within the shortest possible timescale lest the brand and demand for provision be undermined”.

One of the main reasons given for closing the halls from September onwards was a concern about fire safety, with a report professing the “need to spend £125,000 on remedial electrical works and fire safety measures”.

Speaking at a meeting of Aberystwyth Town Council, Mared Llywelyn and Heledd Llwyd of campaign group Ffrindiau Pantycelyn, told town councillors they were “totally unhappy” after a Freedom of Information request appeared to show the university had inflated cost estimates.

Ms Llywelyn said: “According to the university, £125,000 needs to be spent on the hall before it would be safe to let anyone stay there overnight and this needs to be done before it can reopen.

“After submitting a Freedom of Information request, we obtained a copy of the fire safety report and it became apparent that in fact there was no serious risk to life, and the work to ensure safety could have been done for a cost of £43,750.

“We are totally unhappy that things like this are being hidden from us as students and you as residents of Aberystwyth, and it is essential that this process is completely open from now on.”

Councillors were in agreement the council would write a letter to the university seeking assurances regarding transparency and the fulfilment of the recommendations of the Old Bell 3 report.

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