Live! revealed in September that Southside was still not finished five hours before students were due to move in. This week Daniel Wan from stoic news visited Southside to speak to residents.
In the November 29th edition of stoic tv's current affairs programme Wan revealed that numerous problems are still evident, with contractors on site and internal fixtures in some rooms of poor quality or badly fitted. Residents received a 25% discount on their first four weeks rent following the teething problems experienced when the building opened, however five weeks after this discount ceased the problems are still ongoing.
Demolition work has also been affecting the residents: ironically, it affects those without portacabins outside more than those with. The portacabins have been blocking the noise from the Linstead demolition site, while those without portacabins are left with the full brunt of the work taking place outside their windows. Students with portacabins outside have received a discount due to the decrease in natural light to their rooms, but those without are not so lucky. The demolition has also caused Southside's windows to become dirtier than normal, with students asking for them to be cleaned more frequently than twice a year.
Some of the problems shown in Wan's report have existed since the very start of term and were identified during the late night inventory process before the building opened. Around one minute into the report below you will see three problems highlighted, with the missing toilet seat and incorrectly fitted door-closing device both having been reported in September.
With the exception of the dirty windows, none of these problems were raised at the recent Halls Committee, which saw over 40 students - including "hall seniors" - meet with the Deputy President (Education & Welfare) Kirsty Patterson. However, the meeting highlighted a number of other concerns, in particular relating to the new laundry services. As well as faults not being repaired at the weekend, the drying cycle is also seen as too short, requiring students to spend £1 for double the time when they only needed an extra 10 minutes.
Director of Commercial Services Paddy Jackman was unavailable for comment.
You can view Daniel Wan's report below, or watch the full news bulletin on the stoic tv website.
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