Lancaster businesses and students have shared their views about potential job cuts at Lancaster University.
It comes as lecturers in the University & Colleges Union are to start industrial action from Monday, November 10, over the university considering cutting over 400 jobs including 200 academic staff.
Lecturers will 'work-to-rule', refusing to cover absent colleagues or undertake any work outside of their job descriptions. The action could continue for six months and UCU is also considering going out on strike before Christmas unless compulsory redundancies are ruled-out.
Lancaster University managers say factors including fewer overseas students and rising costs mean it has to make savings, including reducing staff numbers. No final decisions have been made.
In Lancaster city centre, market stall holder Mike Gallavan sells collectable badges, patches and caps. He said: "Anything that impacts on students will undoubtedly effect business and stallholders. Around half of my customers are students. I've have a stall here every Wednesday. Lancaster's a good city.
"Universities are obviously really important for local businesses, with thousands of students and staff. I've read about some universities having financial challenges. Perhaps some have over-committed themselves in different ways? I wouldn't be surprised if a drop in international students was one of the causes.
"I think there have been a few recent issues with Edge Hill University in Ormskirk too? That's the impression I get. I think Edge Hill has stopped running buses for students in Ormskirk. That would indicate there's a pattern with university financial issues."
Student Joe Crowe, from Surrey, said he is on a marketing and advertising course at Lancaster University while Sam Whitworth, from Rochdale, is studying geography.
Joe said: "I didn't know the lecturers' action was happening until now. Nobody has mentioned it to me. But I'm not surprised because I already feel there aren't as many lecturers as in the past. Cutting jobs is a concern. I have some sympathy with the lecturers because they think they're being wrongly treated."
Sam said: "I got an email from the university about the union situation. I've known about it for a few days. There have already been some cuts at the university to things like college bars. I think the bars receive money from the university but are run by the students' union. But some bars were closed at the end of last year.
"Some classes and studies are on-line, with slides and presentations. But now there might be delays with work being marked or some things might be cancelled? Some projects have different pieces of work linked together, so there may be some delays with those?"
Asked about foreign student numbers, he said: "From what I've seen, I would not say there are fewer foreign students. I know overseas students are important to universities and bring extra income with higher fees. We live off the campus now, so we see slightly less students. But it seems generally like there's a lot of students this year and perhaps that spurred-on the staff action?"
Jill Dukes is part of the Strongs fruit and vegetables stall. She said: "We have a stall twice a week in Lancaster and also go to Salford Royal Hospital in Greater Manchester. We used to have a shop in Poulton le Fylde.
"Any job losses at the university will be a concern for Lancaster and the wider area. Students and staff are important for business. In the summer when students are away, the market is quieter. Students probably make-up between 10 and 20 per cent of our customers. Generally, many young people are vegetarians and interested in local food and independent businesses, so they're good for a stall like this.
"There's a lot of Chinese students too. They arrive in September, find their feet over a few weeks and discover all the local shops and businesses. They're important too."
Tom Bennett, a Lancaster nuclear engineering student from Kent, said: "I don't know all the details about the lecturers' action but it could go on until April.
"Generally, university tuition fees are going up but nothing seems to be improving. Where is the money going? Inflation and costs are going up. But the university also had a big carbon capture project that, I understand, cost about £100m. It was an air source heating project. And part of a road has been closed for a year or so? I think that was quite expensive.
"The university forms a big part of Lancaster's economy and life. And it's got a good ranking for research and study. But I don't know how all these changes might effect its ranking? I have some sympathy with staff. They are lovely people and don't deserve to lose their jobs. But there seems to be a trend at the moment with universities having problems. I think Liverpool and Leeds universities have done a lot of cut-backs?"
Eunice Lam and Fiona Han are originally from Hong Kong and China respectively. They run a Chinese sauce and food stall.
Eunice said: "With food, students and young people generally want to taste different types so they're important customers. We come to Lancaster weekly and go to other markets including Manchester. Chinese students are among our customers and there still seems to be plenty of them. There are also Chinese restaurants in the city centre. There's a good mix of food businesses."
Fiona said: "Our recipes are based on own our mums' cooking. We make all the food all ourselves. I think Chinese students like to come to the stall, buy something and talk about their families back home."
Sixth-form student Elena O'Reilly, aged 17, said: " My mum works in administration at the university. The university's really important because it provides lots of jobs and students add life to Lancaster. Students go in all the cafés – you see them on their computers. There are also children's nurseries on the campus and health clinics. They're all connected to the university, one way or another"
Joe Brownsmith, also 17, said: "Lancaster is described as a university town. That's one of its main attractions. If there are job cuts, I'd be worried about the impact on the city and on students' education. With less staff, would classes be bigger?" And it'd be hard on admin staff too. Would there be enough staff to fill the buildings?"
