A COUNCILLOR has condemned the prospect of big rises in tuition fees for university students in 2010.

Ceredig Jamieson-Ball, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Heslington, which includes the University of York, has hit out at the prospect of even higher fees for students following a review in 2009.

The news of higher fees follows a recent survey of university chancellors which revealed that universities will be forced to increase the amount they charge for tuition to cover teaching costs.

The review in 2009 could see fees raised to £6,000 and possibly being increased to £10,000 for some science courses.

Coun Jamieson-Ball said: "In 1997 the Labour government stabbed students in the back by introducing tuition fees, but they reassured people, in their 2001 election manifesto, that they would not introduce top-up fees. They quickly broke that promise. It now looks like their reassurances then about not introducing American-style fees may also turn out to be equally hollow. Why should students in England be subject to huge fees when students in Scotland have had their fees scrapped? The Government could abolish tuition fees if they wanted to, but it seems they don't care about providing opportunities for all."