Student scum

They've been back for four days, and today I found a present left for me - quarter of a pizza left wedged under my windscreen wiper. Last year, shortly after they moved back, there was the contents of a patio tub left on the roof of the car, with the broken remains left behind my wheels. The previous year, my wing mirror was pulled off and wedged under the aerial.

Naturally, the University of Glamorgan can claim no responsibility, nor liability, for their little darlings' actions.

Add to this the sudden lack of parking in Trefforest. These days, students have cars. Lots of cars. The three-bedroom flat above the pub down the street is now responsible for three cars, in an already congested area. And they'll all get their parking permits, because Rhondda Cynon Taff will hand out parking permits like Newport Council hands out publican licences. The facts that they're living 5 minutes walk from the campus, 2 minutes walk from a train station and that Tesco's internet shopping is really rather good - all this will be lost on them; they all need their cars. And their parents will come visiting next weekend with their 4x4s, blocking us up even more, and doubtless complaining about the area.

Reality check. Students pay no council tax, so contribute nothing financially to the area. The shops in the area that benefit are takeaways and letting agencies - for everything else they go to Tesco. We, the locals, are paying for their bins to be emptied, their spilt takeaways and vomit to be cleaned from the street, the police to bang on the doors to break up parties on weekdays at 2am.

My opinions, for what they're worth:

The University should either fund a whole load of police constables to patrol the area, especially between 10pm and 2am, or introduce a community patrol to stop antisocial behaviour - and clean up after their kids.

Rhondda Cynon Taff should implement a one-house-one-car scheme in Trefforest. Subsequent permits to be bought on a sliding scale - £50 for the second, £100 for the third, £200 for the fourth... Notes left in cars saying "applied for permit" with an address should be followed up on the spot to enforce this. Car owners warned that they need a permit and don't get one paid for immediately should get their vehicles clamped or impounded. Permit fees to pay for traffic warden presence.

Chemical sterilisation of students

(That one was a joke.)

Students known to be responsible for antisocial behaviour in the area to be withdrawn from courses, lectures, have qualifications withheld, etc.

University to implement a liability insurance scheme for damage caused to Trefforest and residents by their students.

I think I might write to the paper about that lot! One thing's for sure - there needs to be a change for the better, and without a radical rethink it's not going to happen.