A POLITICIAN has sparked an education row after appearing to publicly criticise the standing of a Southampton university.

Councillor Nigel Hecks launched controversial comments about Southampton Solent University during a heated city council debate.

The Conservative politician faced jeers and shouts of “snobbery” from opposition benches after appearing to mock the city centre establishment’s roots.

Now Solent chiefs have hit back, branding his comments “disappointing”, defending their record and inviting him to come and see for himself.

Cllr Hecks has confessed that while is comments were “flippant” he denies intending to offend staff, students and graduates of the former Southampton Institute of Higher Education.

The row comes as Solent celebrates its 10th anniversary of university status and ploughs forward with a huge extension programme.

Cllr Hecks, who represents Sholing ward, was speaking at a full council meeting where members discussed the authority’s future housing needs.

He told the chamber that accurately calculating new home requirements depends on increases in the city’s student population.

He said: “We need to know the plans for students’ needs at the universities, both at the proper university and the other one.”

Labour’s Cllr Eamonn Keogh led fierce criticism from other members, demanding Cllr Hecks withdraw the statement.

Cllr Keogh said: “There are many students who go to both universities and they would not like that.”

Daily Echo:

A Solent spokeswoman defended the establishment’s “long-standing” history of “high quality” education internationally.

She said: “As an established part of the city, providing support and advice to civic, business and wider communities, we are slightly surprised and disappointed to hear that a long-term resident of the city has referred to the universities in Southampton in this way.

“We will be inviting Cllr Hecks to visit Solent, tour our campus and learn about the facilities, opportunities and services we offer.”

Afterwards Cllr Hecks who attended Solent University's forerunner, the college of higher education, to study town planning in the 1970s, said: “I wasn’t being derogatory. I was saying that Southampton university is the primary university and that Southampton Solent stemmed from the institute.

Agreeing to visit, he said: “It’s a good university with a magnificent prospectus.”

City cabinet member for communities cllr Satvir Kaur, who studied at both universities and sits on Solent’s board of governors, branded his comments “unhelpful” and said: “Solent is internationally recognised and leading in many creative and maritime industries. I really hope he takes up their offer to visit.”

A spokesman for Southampton university refused to be drawn into the debate but said both university’s share a “good relationship”.

Solent university dates back to 1856 when a private school of art was founded in Portland Terrace.

Mergers between Southampton college of art and the college of technology to form the college of higher education laid the foundations for Southampton institute of higher education. It eventually incorporated the college of nautical studies and changed its name to Solent on gaining university status in 2005.