Picture Ref: 73037-43THE GREAT DEBATE: ONE of Swindon's top Tories has questioned whether a university would benefit Swindon.

Coun Justin Tomlinson, who is a member of Swindon Council's cabinet, stresses that his views are his own, and not the cabinet's.

He says that only 60 people went to Bath University from the city of Bath last year and so questions whether the university would benefit homegrown students.

He said: "I have grave reservations over the proposed university plans.

"Over the last 30 years Swindon has been an economic success.

"I feel this is in no small part down to the town being able to attract a large and varied number of graduate students, myself included."

He came to Swindon nine years ago after graduating from Oxford Brookes University.

He said: "In my opinion this had much to do with relatively high levels of affordable housing for the graduate market, giving Swindon the edge over London, Oxford, Reading, Bristol and Bath.

"A university with 10,000 students could see this 'first-time buyer housing' completely snapped up by landlords who will then rent them out as multi-occupancy houses to students, pricing graduates out of the market.

"This would make Swindon no longer attractive to the graduates who are so desperately needed by the local economy."

And following a meeting with the vice chancellor of Bath Uni-versity, Coun Tomlinson believes that young people do not benefit as much as would be expected from having a university in their home town.

He said: "Last year Bath University was only able to attract 60 people from Bath, therefore I question how much of an impact it would make on local education."

Coun Tomlinson believes that of the 260 people he graduated with in Oxford, virtually all headed for other towns following graduation.

He said: "I had every intention of remaining there but could not afford the rent on a graduate wage, whereas in Swindon I could.

"Traditionally graduates do not remain in the town where they qualified therefore I have concerns that we will be swapping graduates for students.

"My mind is not fully made up, but these serious issues need to be answered before I join the clamour to cut the ribbon with the others who are so positive about the scheme."

He believes that the educational improvements most urgently needed in Swindon are at level one to three in vocation training.

He said: "I also share Coun Owen Lister's concerns about landlocking the hospital. We moved the hospital there in the first place because it was not landlocked."

The Advertiser has run a series of features in the last week about the pros and cons of building the university at Coate. The Great Western Hospital, various businesses and the New Swindon Company have all come out in favour of the plans, although environmental campaigners have expressed strong reservations.

Dave Andrew