Becky Marrow – a first year Journalism student at the University of Lincoln – has written an article on a petition which opposes Article Four.

An urgent petition to oppose legislation capping the amount of shared housing in the city has been devised by the University of Lincoln’s Students’ Union.

An appeal from the West End Residents Association (WERA) in Lincoln regarding the number of houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) gained over 1,100 signatures this summer. Because of this the City of Lincoln Council is considering new planning legislation that would affect the number of shared houses in the city.

Along with Bishop Grosseteste University, the Students’ Union is hoping to counteract the progress made by WERA through a petition against the legislation known as Article Four Direction.

Olivia Hill, the welfare and community officer for the University of Lincoln’s Students’ Union, said: “We chose a petition because we wanted something that could collect the voices of the people who didn’t think Article Four was a good idea.”

Links to the appeal were uploaded to Twitter and Facebook, and there was also a paper petition handed out that people were able to sign. So far it has received just under 2,000 signatures.

The petition is also available for other members of the community to sign. Olivia said: “This wouldn’t just affect students. It would affect recent graduates, possibly migrant workers, those who can’t afford to buy a house yet.

“We feel that the issues some residents are upset by wouldn’t be resolved by Article Four and what we’re saying is we want to work together and solve these issues.”

The petition is currently available on the official Students’ Union website for people to sign.

Written by Becky Marrow.

For more information on Article Four and the petition against it, visit the University of Lincoln Students’ Union website at: www.lincolnsu.com

Ben H.