Times are hard for universities, so institutions are becoming accustomed to developing novel ways of raising funds. Reading University has decided to sell some of its disused land and has made planning applications to Wokingham District Council for five sites around its estate. Suggested uses are housing, offices and even a traffic gyratory system. But when vice-chancellor Gordon Marshall attended a local town council meeting, the members had other ideas. The area has a chronic shortage of graveyard space. The university says it is considering the proposal.