AS THE number of signatures on the petition against the Caerleon campus closure reaches 2,500, the university has again defended its decision.

Paul Halliday, Welsh Liberal Democrat’s prospective candidate for Newport East, who has been campaigning against the closure since rumours began in the summer, said the campaign has secured 2,500 signatures and more than 500 comments since it launched on Friday and that figure is continuing to rise.

Speaking to the Argus yesterday Mr Halliday said he was “concerned” over the economic impact the loss of the campus would have in businesses in the area and in the city centre.

Mr Halliday said jobs will be lost from businesses as a result- in addition to the 150 jobs already set to go.

He said he had been contacted by various businesses considering pulling out from the Caerleon and city centre areas.

“It will affect these individuals as well,” he continued.

“I have been contacted by businesses such as letting agencies and bed and breakfasts that are full of uncertainty because of the university.

“So there are economic things going on here as well.

“It is a big issue for Newport and the thing that is bothering me at the moment is the silence on the issue.”

Hundreds of people have commented on the petition site calling the closure a “disgrace.”

One commenter said: “The closure of courses at Caerleon is an absolute disgrace in order to make short term financial gain.

“The long term advantages of higher education and the benefits it brings to mature adult learners in this regional area seem to have been neglected.”

But the University of South Wales has continued to defend its decision saying the closure will mean students have the best facilities at the universities other campuses.

In response to Mr Halliday’s comments a University of South Wales spokesman said: “We want USW students to have the latest and best facilities on their campuses, and we think they deserve them.

“That’s why the University is investing hugely in its student experience, whether through social facilities such as new student unions and social spaces, or teaching and simulation facilities for new and growing degree courses.

“We have looked carefully at where it makes most sense to focus for the future, and our Board of Governors have unanimously decided that we will concentrating our investment in Newport.

“This means expanding the Newport City Campus in a two-phase, multi-million pound investment programme that is supported by key employer and business organisations as part of the City’s regeneration, and across the University, moving some courses to bring them together with similar subjects and nearer to potential employers.

“The student market doesn’t respect history, and we have to make sometimes difficult decisions for the future of the University and its next generation of students.

“USW’s predecessors did the same when they took the major long-term decisions to build our modern campuses in the region’s major cities.

“We judge that this change is necessary so that all USW students can have the very best facilities and experiences during their time at university.”