R G Bartlett, of Rundle Road, Newton Abbot, agriculturist and former Seale-Hayne student, writes:
You bet GVA-Grimley 'remain tight-lipped' about the bidders for Seale-Hayne (Nigel Canham, MDA May 29, College site bids).
When agreeing to market S-H for the University of Plymouth (UoP) I'm sure GVA-G were unaware of the shameful history leading to the closure of the college; nor, I bet, did they expect the searching questioning they encountered from the Seale-Hayne Future group. (SHF).
I wonder if the new bidders are aware of the disgraceful saga?
After many years, contriving to gain ownership of the S-H assets (by, in my opinion, wilfully circumventing Clause 10 in the 'Deeds'), eventually the UoP chancellery were successful, saying they needed to invest in the site.
Just over two years later, they announced closure. 'Academic Restructuring', not money, was the stated reason.
There is much detail, of course, but that's about it.
The UoP paid about £800K only into the S-H Educational Trust, now they are selling the site for millions. Counsel confirmed there is a case, but it would cost a fortune to pursue the UoP and the Charity Commission through the courts.
What bitterly compounds this shabby history is the lost opportunity.
The government's chief scientific adviser (Beddington), the Minister of State at Defra Lord Hunt, Barack Obama, also Dr Jacqes Diouf, head of UNFAO – to name a few – have all said in various ways that global food production and security is in desperate trouble.
They say among other things that we must invest in research and training if starvation is to be avoided.
Bidders have included organisations wishing to establish S-H as the leading UK centre for this type of research but the UoP have allowed property developers to bid.
I had hoped the new vice-chancellor would be different.
What is it about the UoP chancellery that makes them shameless and unable to see the opportunity?