STUDENT leader Samantha Kennedy has launched a stinging attack on city council plans to limit homes for undergraduates.

She told a meeting of the Executive on Thursday: "We don't want to stay living in a city where our local representatives are telling us we're not welcome.

Discrimination: Student leader Samantha Kennedy has launched a stinging attack on the city council

"This is the message your policy gives and this is not a message that will help our common goal of improving community cohesion."

The council wants to cap the number of residential houses being converted into homes in multiple occupation (HMO) to no more than 20 per cent in any one street.

Neighbours have complained that students are noisy, get in late, forget to have their rubbish collected and take up too many parking spaces.

But Miss Kennedy, vice-president of student welfare at the University of Kent, said: "We believe putting a quota on HMOs based on the type of person believed to live in them is discrimination.

"A quota on any other social group in Canterbury would be impossible to even consider.

"It is wrong to generalise and stereotype in this way in an attempt to tackle a minority who cause a problem.

"On paper, and in the media, this policy will look really good. It will look like Canterbury City Council is taking really decisive action against the perceived problems of student housing.

"But it won't help the residents who are experiencing problems right now. This policy comes across as anti-student and is likely to simply damage community relations.

"I'm a good neighbour; I have many student and non-student friends who are also good neighbours who live in HMOs."

But councillors were unrepentant. Housing spokesman Councillor Tony Austin said residents complained about not being able to sleep during term time and had problems with parking.

He said: "We fully appreciate student accommodation is required but the best place for further development is on designated campuses."

City planners recently approved 209 units for Christ Church University in St George's Place and 485 units at the University of Kent.

Mr Austin added: "We must reclaim some of our family housing for families. The private and public rental sectors are particularly short of three and four-bedroom homes."

He said there were 900 people on the city council's waiting list for three-bedroom accommodation.

Councillors agreed to approve the draft proposal for consultation and to adopt it as a planning guideline until a final decision is taken.