COUNCIL chiefs have refused to renew operating licences for a massive accommodation campus occupied by Glasgow University students.

The decision follows visits by fire officers to the Murano Street Village in the West End.

They checked out the accommodation in February this year and found a long list of problems.

These included scorched kitchen units next to cookers, kitchens used as sitting rooms, signs some students had been smoking, electrics in laundry rooms showing signs of scorching, tenants cooking in their bedrooms and fire doors needing attention and wedged open.

Murano Street Village, which is the university's largest halls of residence, has a total of 1163 bedrooms and has been registered as a house in multiple occupation since October 1992 and is managed in partnership with Sanctuary Housing Association.

Accommodation bosses were informed of the problems and in May, fire officers made a return visit to check outstanding issues had been resolved.

A report from Scottish Fire and Rescue to the city council's licensing committee states: "A considerable amount of work was still outstanding. Completion date for works could not be confirmed as work was substantial."

This week Glasgow University applied to have 66 HMO licenses for the campus renewed.

But they were all rejected because of the scale of the problems at the complex.

University bosses plan to appeal and say they will carry out all necessary work.

The campus can continue to operate pending the outcome of the appeal.

A spokesman said: "The University of Glasgow has been working continually with our partners, Sanctuary Housing Association, to ensure the student accommodation is of the highest possible standard and that it meets all the necessary and very rigorous standards for fire safety.

"Before the latest hearing of the licensing and regulatory committee, we had drawn up an action plan to tackle any unresolved fire safety issues.

"The university is disappointed the HMO license has not been renewed, but we are confident there are no unacceptable risks to students."

"We will continue to work closely with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and other partners to ensure we can work quickly with the licensing committee to have the required license granted as soon as practicable."

University bosses have 28 days to request a written statement of reasons and the council has 10 days to respond.

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk