STUDENTS are objecting to plans to close what they say are vital campus facilities including a relaxation zone and college shop.

Colchester Institute will close the campus shop and Student Zone from the beginning of the next academic year in September.

The college said not enough students were using the facilities to justify keeping them.

But Student Union president Scott Piper described the facilities as vital.

He said: “People use the Student Zone to do coursework or see us at the union.

“There is a pool table, games consoles, computers and board games for students to use.

“A lot of students suffer from anxiety, it’s where they socialise.

“This space is vital. The college says it puts students at the heart of everything but it doesn’t seem like that is what they are doing.”

A petition to keep the space open has already received more than 100 signatures.

Scott said students would have to walk to town to buy basics if the college shop closed.

The space created will be used for teaching facilities.

The college invested in a film and gaming suite, a gym, and a sensory garden last May.

In 2017, it was announced a £5 million centre for health and care could open.

The project, if successful, should be complete in January with £2.5 million coming from Essex County Council’s Local Growth Fund. The county council and college will match fund £1.25 million each.

A college spokeswoman said: “We are continuing to focus on how we can maximise the use of spaces.

“With increased competition from low cost stores and the convenience of internet shopping, students can purchase stationery elsewhere and this has impacted on sales in the college shop.”

She added: “Whilst the Student Zone has been a fabulous break out space, research shows this is only actively used by a small minority of our 4,000 students.

“The campus still offers countless safe and quiet spaces to relax.”