An Edge Hill University student has spoken out after claiming some students are being unfairly judged and made to feel unwelcome in Ormskirk.
In a post shared on social media, the student said they had noticed increasing criticism of students and wanted to highlight the positive contributions many make to the town.
The student wrote: "Many of us have got jobs at local businesses, often buy from the market and have tried our best to integrate into this society the best we can.
"However, as soon as we are around town with an Edge Hill lanyard, people pull faces at us."
They added that students often pay high rents, work alongside their studies and contribute to the local economy through employment and spending.
The post also addressed one of the most frequent complaints made by residents—parking.
While acknowledging concerns about cars blocking driveways, the student argued the issue stemmed from a lack of parking provision at the university rather than students intentionally causing problems.
They wrote: "It is not our fault that we have to park on local streets as our university does not provide us with adequate parking."
The student also highlighted the role many students play within the local community, particularly those studying healthcare and education.
"The person you are pulling a face at in the town centre for wearing an Edge Hill lanyard could be the person that looks after your mother on placement in hospitals, or your child on placement at school," they wrote.
The post prompted dozens of responses from residents, many of whom expressed support for students and their contribution to the town.
One resident replied: "Ignore the moaners on here. The majority of people have no issues with the students or Uni and we understand how much Ormskirk benefits from having you here."
Another said the real issue was the size of the university relative to the town rather than the students themselves.
They wrote: "The problem is that Ormskirk is a small market town and the university has simply outgrown what the town can realistically cope with.
"That's not the students' fault. You'll always get a minority who cause problems in every walk of life.
"In the end, it's not really a student problem; it's a university that's become too big for the town it's in."
Others were keen to stress that their experiences of students had been overwhelmingly positive.
One resident said: "Students have never caused me any problems at all.
"As far as I know they are very welcome by the people and businesses alike.
"I'm sure I'm in the majority."
Another added: "I have absolutely no problem with Edge Hill students and welcome them to Ormskirk.
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"Thank you for enhancing our town, contributing to society and boosting the local economy.
"And good luck in bettering your prospects."
The discussion reflects a long-running debate in university towns across the UK, where students are often seen as both a vital part of the local economy and a source of pressure on housing, parking and public services.
In Ormskirk, the student's post appears to have struck a chord, attracting strong support from residents, who said students remain an important part of the town's community.
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