TCD students' union has collected over 1,500 signatures opposing what it claims is a move to close the college's landmark front gate on College Green early each night and to restrict access to the college after that time.

According to the students' union, college officers are considering a proposal to close the college's front gate on College Green from 8.00 p.m. or 9.00 p.m., restricting student access to the college's Nassau Street entrance. The gate is open to all students until midnight at present, while residents can gain access at any time.

"We feel the proposed closure has negative implications for students," said TCD students' union education officer John Walsh. He said that the closure, if introduced, would impose restrictions on students and convey the impression that to those outside the college that TCD was closing itself off from the rest of the city.

But TCD college secretary Michael Gleeson denied that there was any plan to close front gate in the near future.

"Front gate is not closed at 9.00 p.m. at present and there is no immediate plan to do anything like that," he said describing claims to the contrary as misinformed.

No attempt has been made as yet to put any such proposal before TCD's decision making bodies, but the union was sufficiently alarmed to convene a meeting of the joint student officer liaison group in December.

The liaison group was formed in the aftermath of the last student occupation of college buildings to deal with particularly contentious issues. Discussions on the matter are set to continue.

The union has suggested, as possible alternatives to closure, a more active security presence around the college and an increase in the number of security guards currently on duty in the college. It is understandable that college feels restraints on its resources but increased security patrolling the campus is probably the only way to control crime," said Walsh.