Falmouth and Exeter universities turned down £32,000 worth of student accommodation developer money, instead saying it can go to Penryn Town Council.

The money came from a section 106 agreement signed by developers of the Packsaddle student accommodation block promising to improve local facilities.

Cornwall Council allocated the money towards developing sports provisions in Penryn, with some of the money due to go to Penryn College and some to the university campus, as long as facilities were open to the public.

Mary May, Cornwall councillor for Penryn West, told the Packet that neither she nor Penryn Town Council were privy to discussions about where the money would be spent, and were not told that it was going to the university.

However, when she contacted a university official about an unrelated matter, she received a reply saying that the university was turning down the £32,000.

Councillor May said: "To hear the university say that they were declining it was like music to my ears."

The university official has been contacted by the Packet but was unavailable for comment.

Now, discussions will be held with councillors, sports clubs and the universities to decide where the remaining money will be spent.

Town councillor for Penryn's West Ward Dan Edwards said at a council meeting that the money could be spent to renovate the Penryn RFC ground.

Councillor May said that some of the money should go to other parts of the town and not just sports facilities.

One of her suggestions was that money could be spent on improving Commercial Road with seating and greenery.

As of August 2018, Cornwall Council had £19m worth of unspent section 106 money. They have a limited time to spend the money before it must be returned to developers.