Cardiff students forced to shower in unlocked car park after water switched off in halls

Students living at one of Cardiff University’s halls of residences had to use showers in their accommodation car park due to water needing to be turned off at the site.

The affected students live in the Garden Wing at Aberdare Hall, a girls only residence on Corbett Road in Cathays.

All water was turned off in the Garden Wing for a period of three days last week from Monday 4th March until Thursday 7th March for planned maintenance work, leaving the students with no choice but to shower outside.

Concerned students approached The Cardiff Tab saying that the fact the temporary showers had been placed in an un-gated carpark put the affected residents of the hall in a “vulnerable position”.

Louise*, a first year student who lives in Aberdare Hall, told The Cardiff Tab: “The showers were in the literal carpark area by the gate which had no security and anyone could walk up to [them].

“They were just outside the gate, so why couldn’t they be put in the courtyard and lock the gate? Anyone could walk up to them. It’s crazy.”

Louise’s sister, Ella, who is also a student at Cardiff University mirrored her sisters concerns about the situation.

She said she’s concerned that they were unsafe for the female students using them as they were in an “unmonitored” car park, which she said was “open for anyone to just walk up to and go in” to.

She told The Cardiff Tab: “Showering in such an unsafe and public area put the girls in such a vulnerable position.”

She added that she doesn’t understand why the girls couldn’t have been offered the option to shower in the university’s gym facilities.

A spokesperson from Cardiff University told The Cardiff Tab: “We have written to residents to inform them of the disruption and the temporary measures in place. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“The works started on Monday (4^th March 2024) and is anticipated it will take approximately three days to complete. The temporary showers are open from 7am until 10pm and are being checked regularly by staff.

“We are doing all we can to resolve this as quickly as possible and to minimise impact. Should residents have any specific queries or concerns they can speak to a member of the team in reception who will be able to help.”

The spokesperson also said that they wouldn’t expect students to walk to university sports facilities in order to shower. They also said that the showers were fully securable from the inside, and CCTV covers the main gate leading to and from the Garden Wing. There were regular foot patrols by university security as well.

They concluded by saying that if students have any concerns, they should raise them with the university’s Residences Team.

*Names changed as per request 

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