Anti-student campaigner who has rented her house out to students accused of hypocrisy

A campaigner who led a protest against the ‘studentification’ of a Hampshire neighbourhood has been branded hypocritical after renting her house to students.



Amanda Chard led hundreds of residents in protesting against rowdy parties, overflowing bins and anti-social behaviour on the Stanmore estate in Winchester. And she spent months warning that “all-out war” would break out if landlords continued to buy up family homes.



Now Ms Chard has moved out of the estate and leased her three-bed house in Drayton Street to students. It has led to allegations of hypocrisy from one of the area’s three city councillors, who felt her campaign scuppered efforts to integrate students into the community. Cllr Derek Green said that she mobilised a lot of anti-student feeling.



He said: “It’s rather hypocritical, isn’t it? I’m very disappointed with her personally. I didn’t think she’d ever do something like that.” Ms Chard brought “a lot of people along with her” to rally against the loss of family homes to students, he said. Cllr Green added: “Now she’s done exactly the same thing, which is very hypocritical.” Ms Chard remained tightlipped over her decision to rent her home to students when questioned.