Lecturers ‘livid’ as VC buys new flat with uni cash to ‘count all his money’

A historic grade II listed building bearing the scars of the Second World War is at the centre of a row between staff and bosses at Nottingham Trent University.

The old Register office on Shakespeare Street, in the city centre, was sold by the council to Nottingham Trent University for £590,000 last year.

It will now hold office space, as well as a second floor flat. Union sources said the building would be used to house the vice chancellor.

A union source within the University, who asked not to be named, added: “He’s building himself a vice-chancellory so he can sit there and count all his money.

“He’s public enemy number one at the moment, we’ve had a one per cent pay rise over eight years – which is essentially a pay cut due to inflation. He’s just given himself a pay rise of £21,000. People are livid.”

The Emperor’s New Groove? The VC’s bad move…

In a response to a Freedom of Information request, the university said: “The building is ideally situated due to its adjacency to the university’s main administration building (Dryden Building) and will be used for office and meeting space accommodation.”It refused to comment on whether the building will be used to house the vice chancellor.

But information on the council’s website reveals planning permission was granted to create offices and a self contained flat.

Ian Muxlow, director of commercial sales at Savills Estate Agent, on Fletcher Gate, also said they had valued the building at the time of purchase, but would not release any information on the valuation.

The university would not say how much is being spent on renovations, calling the information ‘commercially sensitive.’

There should be no shortage of helmets on this building site…

The former Register Office was damaged by shrapnel following the destruction of a wing of the university building across the road. The building was bombed in a raid on May 8 and 9 in 1941.

Referring to the building being renovated, Historian Graham Godfrey, from Toton, said: “Another part of Nottingham’s heritage has been destroyed.”

The university has come under fire from Union bosses over a pay row with staff, describing vice chancellor Neil Gorman as a ‘bully boy’.

His salary topped £321,000 while pay staff have threatened a marking boycott meaning some students may not graduate. The strike was cancelled yesterday after a two per cent pay offer.

Arkwrong

Oliver Taplin, a 2^nd year Real Estate student, quipped:

“He clearly didn’t give himself enough of a pay rise to be able to afford a 1 million pound plus house by himself, so it’s only fair the uni help him out.”

Tom Macdonald, a 2^nd year Biological Science student, was outraged this morning:

“Absolutely ridiculous. Surely there are more beneficial ventures for the university to invest this money in?”

George Robinson, a 2nd year Real Estate Management student, feels that this is what we have come to expect from NTU:

“It’s mind-boggling but unsurprising. The only shock is that they didn’t spend it on the falcons…”