I am a regular reader of your website because I try to visit York at least once a year and it keeps me in touch with matters in the city.

I was horrified to see the plans to double the size of the university campus.

As someone who lives in a university city, Bath, which has seen student numbers rise rapidly, I can honestly say it will be the biggest ruination of the city.

Bath currently has a severe shortage of housing for local people (greedy landlords buying up the housing and stitching up the students with high rents).

It has problems with drunken behaviour, noise and basically a complete loss of community.

The city centre is a no-go area at night and on Saturdays you cannot move for students hanging around on the streets.

Our Liberal Democrat council thinks it is wonderful, but for local people it is unbearable.

There is absolutely no benefit to the local economy other than to the local pubs and clubs.

It is very much a case of residents now moving out of the city and I fear it will soon become solely a student area.

There are pockets of the city where only six houses in a street of 150 are local residents.

Allow this to go ahead and you will all regret it for the rest of your lives. Please do not let your beautiful city be destroyed as Bath has been.

A Phillips.

Coronation Avenue,

Oldfield Park, Bath.

Updated: 10:26 Monday, March 21, 2005