TES to be replaced early next term

According to Mike Pidgeon, the Students’ Union Communications Officer, some aspects of Union rebuild are “ahead of schedule”, and the project is within budget.

Speaking to The Boar, he also revealed that the removal of the Temporary Events Structure is planned to take place after it hosts the One World Week Party at the end of Week 4 of Term 2.

The TES has been the cause of controversy, with students unhappy about the heat, opening hours and queues. Jamie Smith, a second year physics student, said that at one event he had had to go outside into the smoking area “just to cool down.”

The Union has, however, made attempts to reduce the problems with TES. Pidgeon acknowledged that the heat was a problem, but pointed out that fans had been introduced, and that the Union has reduced the amount of tickets for events to prevent overcrowding.

To cope with the demand for alcohol, more taps have been installed to reduce queuing and pints are pre-poured before Score.

The Union has also decided to open the TES earlier for events after students complained about the midnight closing times. On its website, the Union claims that it has ‘got the balance right’.

The Students’ Union additionally plans to allow students to decide the names of the venues inside the new building. Pidgeon said it was vital that the Union “got the rebuild right”, and that student participation was essential. He acknowledged that communication with societies and students about the rebuild had largely been one-way, calling it a “fair criticism”, and committed the sabbatical team to wider consultation.

There is also still no concrete funding for equipment to place inside the planned media centre, despite Pidgeon being “confident” that the Union will secure sponsorship.