Agenda item

Representatives from City of York Network Management and the university will talk about parking issues and listen to your concerns.

Alistair Briggs, Traffic Engineer, City of York Council, informed the meeting that a decision had been made earlier that day to place parking restrictions along the entire length of University Road on both sides of the road in order to prevent the parking problems that have occurred over recent years.  It is hoped that this work will be completed by April 2011 following the legal process required.

Cllr Jamieson-Ball supported the decision for parking restrictions.

Tim Ngwena, President of University of York, outlined the continuing commitment to making the university a car free area. The key message for students is that there is no need to have a car in York as there are far better transport alternatives. Before students move to York, they are informed that there are no parking places available on campus for those living in university accommodation with a few exceptions who can pay for a discounted permit. Information is provided on the extensive bus service at the university, the benefits of cycling and the support offered for cycle safety and maintenance advice. This has been taken up very successfully by students.

John Meacock, Director of Estates, University of York introduced himself and informed the meeting that the University of York supported the decision on parking restrictions along University Road and on Heslington Lane.

The meeting was then opened up to residents to ask questions and the following points were noted:

• Cars are left outside residents properties on a daily basis. When asked, some students reported that there are no facilities on campus, but the cost and time element of travelling by public transport from Leeds and other cities is prohibitive. Tim Ngwena outlined that students have freedom of choice, the university has been working hard to promote car sharing but they cannot force people to use other means of transport.

• Additional parking will be added for the campus and the new swimming pool. A cycle track has been proposed from the Park & Ride and a possible bus route straight to campus.

• A resident asked the meeting to clarify their views on the financial responsibility for resident parking schemes.

ACTION: Alistair Briggs to clarify and the resident to email A. Briggs the relevant part of the CYC Transport document.

• It is hoped that the temporary buildings at the library site and the ????? site will be removed during the Summer which will increase the number of parking places available on campus. The larger Portacabin at the ????? site will remain.

• Rising bollards are not a feasible option to solve the problem of excessive parking on residential streets as 24 hour access is still required by residents, visitors and emergency services. These are more suitable to block off one entrance to an area that suffers from rat running. Cllr Jamieson-Ball informed the meeting that a similar scheme was consulted on previously and rejected.

• Concern was raised that people would park on the grass verge to avoid the double yellow line parking restrictions. Cllr Jamieson-Ball informed the meeting that the verge would be subject to the same parking restrictions and a parking penalty could still be issued.

• There are 150 parking spaces on campus and barriers are being implemented. There also plans for 150 extra parking spaces at Grimston Bar and  ????? new spaces for the new swimming pool. Permits for the campus parking spaces cost £30 per year or 0.6% of staff salary.

• If parking was free on campus this would most likely encourage further cars users to use the spaces, which would impact on road congestion.

• Cllr Jamieson-Ball advocated that instead of looking at the impact of increased parking on streets surrounding the university campus on an annual basis in a piece-meal fashion, as directed by the planning  conditions of the campus expansion, the issues should be considered holistically and a plan to tackle the whole problem in one go should be considered. Parking restrictions must go hand in hand with resident parking schemes to avoid pushing the problems to other areas each year. He suggested installing a cycle path from the Park & Ride site to the campus and a bus link through campus. A vision for everyone will be the only way to solve the existing problems.

• Anyone found abusing a resident parking scheme through illegal selling of permits etc. will have their permit confiscated. There has been a recent case of this occurring when it was discovered that a permit had been put on sale on E-bay.
• A resident of Fulford outlined concerns that the parking problems in Heslington would move on to Fulford next.

ACTION: Cllr Aspden will raise this issue at the next Fulford Parish Council meeting.