Exeter College has been warned that its reputation is at stake if its students fail to clean up their act. Since the start of the new academic term, residents have been complaining about litter problems in Northernhay and Rougemont gardens, and Bury Meadow park. A meeting was held between the city council, residents and the college to try to find a solution. Afterwards Keith Owen, the city's lead councillor for environment, said: "We had a useful discussion about the unacceptable behaviour of a number of young people using the city centre parks. "It remains to be seen if the situation will improve as a result of the meeting. "It was made clear to the college management that the reputation of the college was at risk if it did not." Cllr Owen added that the college had explained its limited ability to do anything about this, although its staff had occasionally walked around the parks to keep an eye on student behaviour there. Cllr Owen said: "It was agreed that there would be better communication in future between the college and the city council, with council parks' staff being assisted by receiving feedback from the college staff on what they found in the parks. "It was agreed that there would be a follow-up meeting in April to decide on plans for the months ahead when parks would get busier again. Steve Strang, head of estates at Exeter College, said: "We agreed that communications were critical between all parties to tackle these issues, and we are going to meet each term as a group to monitor progress. "The college has currently stepped up patrols by our security team to reinforce good behaviour in our students. "In the long term, the college is investing in a new maths and science centre at existing National House building on Queen Street, which incorporates a large social space, which is hoped will take some of the pressure of the parks by providing an alternative location for some students during break times." Christine Fraser, chairman of St David's Neighbourhood Partnership, said that she hoped the college would sign up to the Exeter Green Partnership which is being proposed for the city. The existence of such a partnership would engage all sectors, make access to grant funding easier, and provide insurance cover for people who wanted to take on things to improve the city's green spaces. Ms Fraser said: "Businesses, Women's Institutes, residents' associations, brownie groups, schools - anybody who is interested in where they live and would like to see these spaces flourish will be invited to take part. "The aim is to improve Exeter's entry in the Britain in Bloom by 2016 to a gold rating."
