STEREOTYPING students in Glasgow could lead to the city’s economy losing millions of pounds, a councillor has warned.

With students contributing more than £520million to the city’s economy every year Councillor George Redmond fears that brandishing a negative view on students could repel them from choosing to study at the city’s universities.

The councillor raised his concerns after reading through objections which were lodged against the construction of student accommodation on Dunblane Street.

He said: “Some of the objections coming from the public against students living nearby verged on being insulting.

“An example of this was when a number of residents objected against the Royal Conservatoire’s new student accommodation over fears of an increase in anti-social behaviour in the area.

“That concern is just not realistic and could be very damaging to the perception of how the city views students as a whole. There may be experiences people have heard of when it comes to unruly students but to have concerns that anti-social behaviour would increase because students are moving in to the area is not helping anybody."

Councillor Redmond added that there needs to be a stop to the negative stereotyping of students living and studying here.

He added: “Students are very valuable to Glasgow in terms of what they contribute and more responsibility needs to be taken in how they are treated. Or, they could go somewhere else.”

Councillor Redmond revealed that, since 2012, 4800 spaces of specially built student accommodation has been built across the city.

A further 3800 spaces currently under construction.

And of the 130,000 students who attend university or college, over 60,000 live within the city’s boundaries.

The Calton councillor also said that providing students with the best accommodation possible would also decrease the amount of students sharing flats owned by private landlords.

He added: “Building student accommodation enable the city’s universities to attract more students to choose Glasgow.

“International students contribute around £80m a year to the economy and, if the best possible living spaces for them to develop their talent are on offer, then more students from the likes of China may want to choose the city.

“International students coming to the city also boosts tourism as families and friends come to visit them during their course of study.

“Students are a vital part of Glasgow’s prosperity and we must do everything we can to attract them here rather than put them off.”