The implementation of the West Loughborough Parking Study has slipped another week. The distribution of detail plans to houses covered by the proposed scheme will now start on Monday 25th July and the block advert in the Echo will appear next Thursday in the Friday 29th edition. There will still be a six week consultation period and the library exhibition remains will still be held on Thursday 18th August.
The SbC team would like to remind everyone that, whatever comments you made previously on this consultation will NOT be carried forward. If you have comments then you must make them again during the consultation period. If you think it will help, try and get together with your neighbours to agree a common approach. If half want a scheme and half don't you are putting the Council in a very difficult position; it would be much better to have a clear agreement on what you want and then there is a good chance of securing that outcome.
Friday, 22 July 2011
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Sat 9th July. West Loughborough Parking Study.
We reported earlier that the WLPS has moved from Highways into the new Traffic Management Deapartment at Leics County Council. David Wright is the new Team Manager and he will be leading the implementation of this much delayed scheme from now on.
1. The first phase of implementation will begin in the week starting 18th July. A letter and plan will be delivered to all houses in the area covered by the proposals.
2. An advertisement describing the scheme proposals displayed Loughborough Echo on 21st July.
3. There will be a six week consultation period for responses from the public.The response period runs from the 18th July to 26th August.
4. There will be a public display of the plans in Loughborough Library on Thursday 18th August with Traffic Management Staff available for consultation.
5. Implementation. Sometime in 2012.
1. The first phase of implementation will begin in the week starting 18th July. A letter and plan will be delivered to all houses in the area covered by the proposals.
2. An advertisement describing the scheme proposals displayed Loughborough Echo on 21st July.
3. There will be a six week consultation period for responses from the public.The response period runs from the 18th July to 26th August.
4. There will be a public display of the plans in Loughborough Library on Thursday 18th August with Traffic Management Staff available for consultation.
5. Implementation. Sometime in 2012.
L'boro South West Area Forum. Mon 11th July 6pm. All welcome
The next meeting of our Local Area Forum will be held on Monday 11th July at 6pm at the Holywell Free Church, next to Holywell School on Berkeley Road. All local residents are welcome to attend.
The Invitation states Information and networking session from 6pm and on this part of the Agenda are, The West Loughborough Parking Study, Police, an opportunity to speak to our local beat officer, and Community members, representatives and our local Ward Councillors.
There appears to be a formal agenda, as well, with a public question time.
See our top/next entry on this blog for the latest details of the West Loughborough Parking Study.
The Invitation states Information and networking session from 6pm and on this part of the Agenda are, The West Loughborough Parking Study, Police, an opportunity to speak to our local beat officer, and Community members, representatives and our local Ward Councillors.
There appears to be a formal agenda, as well, with a public question time.
See our top/next entry on this blog for the latest details of the West Loughborough Parking Study.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
West L'boro Parking Study news 25th June
We have heard unconfirmed reports of reorganisation at the County Council's Highways Department. We understand that the two divisions, Transport and Highways are splitting into separate groups. The team leader, previously responsible for WLPS, Mike Sheldrake, will remain in Highways whilst Transport will take over the West Loughborough Parking Study. Inevitably there will be further delays.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
House Keeping for May/June
There hasn't been an entry since before the last local elections as there hasn't been anything to report. We were told that the next round of the West Loughborough Parking Study would be played out immediately after the local elections on the 5th May 2011. However, a couple of weeks later one of our regular correspondents tried the Highways Helpline to ask when the WLPS was starting? He then passed this new information back to the SwampedbyCars team; 'not until August or September' he was told.
Considering that a lot of time and energy was expended by our MP, Nicky Morgan and councillors Jane Hunt, Peter Lewis and the staff at County Hall, we are a little bit surprised that the parking scheme has been put back again. Naturally, this new information led to a flurry of 'phone calls and the very latest news we have, as of the 9th June; is that the whole scheme will be advertised at the end of June in the Loughborough Echo, that there will be a slightly longer, final, consultation process. And to make the detailed information more accessible, the plans will be displayed in the Town Library. Watch this space for further updates.
In case anyone missed the local election I am pleased to announce that Jane Hunt. our very hard working councillor remains as one of our Conservative councillors and she is joined by Margaret Smidowicz JP. who has made a very good start getting to know as many people in the Ward as possible. Jane is promoted to the Borough Council's Cabinet and Margaret will be sitting on the Planning Committee. Peter Lewis who stood down as one of our local councillors this year remains as our County Councillor and he has been chosen as Deputy Leader of the County Council and Leader designate for the following year. So we are represented by an excellent team.
Whilst nothing to do directly with SwampedbyCars, some local residents in Spinney Hill Drive have been campaigning hard to stop the University siting their new MUGAS's [3 multi-use-games-areas] open from 8.am to 11.pm and floodlit very close to the back gardens of their houses on the long length of Spinney Hill Drive. Objections were based on closeness to the homes and gardens meaning the residents would suffer, noise, light pollution and disturbance seven days a week. SbC was also concerned that a facility of this size would also attract many students from the town to play and they would park in both Spinney Hill and The Coniston Crescent area as they would not be allowed to park on campus. Even though it was the first meeting of the brand new Planning Committee and the first item on the agenda, the councillors voted unanimously to refuse the application. Local residents have assured me that they are not against MUGA's for the students, just not at this location, so close to the University's nearest neighbours. We hope the University sees sense and finds an alternative site for what will be their noisiest facility.
And finally, the University has released information that they are adopting the new parking fees for staff and students from September making the most expensive parking space £300 a year should the driver have a vehicle with a high CO2 tariff. Naturally we urge all residents to report any changes in the pattern of parking that the imposition of these charges may bring. We have been assured that the registration process for student cars, being kept either at the University or in the Town, will be collected in a more formal manner from September this year and that the information should be more reliable.
,
Monday, 28 March 2011
Jane Hunt standing in by-election for MP
Jane Hunt, one of Nanpantan Ward's local councillors, is to stand for Parliament at the Leicester South by-election on May 5th as the Conservative Candidate. This election will be held on the same day as the local elections for our Borough Council; will Jane be standing for both positions? She has until April 4th to confirm her decision, the closing date for the announcement of candidates in the local election. The vacancy for an MP in Leicester South arises because Sir Peter Soulsby MP is standing down so he can campaign as the Labour Candidate for Leicester's first directly elected mayor.
Local Elections 5th May 2011
On March 2nd, at the request of the local Conservative party, the SwampedbyCars team met some of the new Conservative candidates who will be standing in the Local Elections. We had been asked to explain our campaign and give our views on the parking problems affecting the roads closest to the University and how the excess of student cars is causing problems for the town. When we met the candidates we had agreed not to go public with the news that Peter Lewis is standing down from the Nanpantan Ward and that the empty seat will be contested by Margaret Smidowicz JP. As this news is now public, we no longer need to keep it under wraps. At that time we believed that Jane Hunt would continue as one of our two Conservative councillors. See our next post for up-to-date news on Jane. Having met some of the Conservative candidates we then suggested to Max Hunt, leader of the local Labour Party, that we would be willing to meet some of the Labour party members standing either in Nanpantan Ward or nearby wards that suffer similar parking problems. We were very pleased to meet four of their new candidates including Ruth Sinclair and Mike Cahill who will be standing in Nanpantan Ward on the 14th March. Ruth and Mike now have circulated their local election address in this area and on the back of the letter they are asking for; the issues that most concern you and what you would like them to focus on? This is your chance to get the message across, there are too many student cars being brought to the town and the town can't cope. The Borough Council has the power, working with the University, to control this problem.
Monday, 21 February 2011
University changing its parking rules
Loughborough University is changing its Campus Parking Strategy as part of its new Green Travel Plan. In fairness to the University these changes are being made in the spirit of improving its green travel credentials by encouraging more walking cycling, and car sharing.
However, it will be done by imposing huge increases in the cost of parking on campus. From £60 for staff and students to a sliding scale of £140 to £300 depending on car emissions. We have heard from campus unions that many staff are very upset at these increased charges. We have been warned to expect more staff and students to avoid the parking charge by dumping their cars on our streets.
When we presented our petition to the CBC we drew attention to many previous decisions, made by the University, that have knock-on consequences for the local community. This is another decision that should go before the Council for agreement/approval as it will have impact on residents.
In our petition to CBC we anticipated there would be huge rises in parking charges because of the last Government's 'Workplace Parking Charge' Act so we asked that both staff and student car registrations should be collected. The CBC Scrutiny Panel agreed and this was included; yet, at the last moment the University convinced CBC Cabinet to drop the requirement for collecting staff car registrations. SwampedbyCars immediately objected because we knew that at some time in the future parking charges would rise and more staff cars would be left on our streets.
Before CBC approves the University's new Green Travel Plan we urge that they require the University to collect staff car registrations and they be acted upon by the security patrols in our area.
You can read the University's proposals at the following link
http://www.fileswap.com/dl/ABRCMe7/Uni_Car_Park_Strategy_Plan_Feb_2011.doc.html
or at http:/tinyurl.com/6kjtwpy
Whilst we applaud the University's green improvements it has to done with the full cooperation of its staff and students.
[students living in Halls of residence, on campus, are currently charged £120 for their parking permit]
However, it will be done by imposing huge increases in the cost of parking on campus. From £60 for staff and students to a sliding scale of £140 to £300 depending on car emissions. We have heard from campus unions that many staff are very upset at these increased charges. We have been warned to expect more staff and students to avoid the parking charge by dumping their cars on our streets.
When we presented our petition to the CBC we drew attention to many previous decisions, made by the University, that have knock-on consequences for the local community. This is another decision that should go before the Council for agreement/approval as it will have impact on residents.
In our petition to CBC we anticipated there would be huge rises in parking charges because of the last Government's 'Workplace Parking Charge' Act so we asked that both staff and student car registrations should be collected. The CBC Scrutiny Panel agreed and this was included; yet, at the last moment the University convinced CBC Cabinet to drop the requirement for collecting staff car registrations. SwampedbyCars immediately objected because we knew that at some time in the future parking charges would rise and more staff cars would be left on our streets.
Before CBC approves the University's new Green Travel Plan we urge that they require the University to collect staff car registrations and they be acted upon by the security patrols in our area.
You can read the University's proposals at the following link
http://www.fileswap.com/dl/ABRCMe7/Uni_Car_Park_Strategy_Plan_Feb_2011.doc.html
or at http:/tinyurl.com/6kjtwpy
Whilst we applaud the University's green improvements it has to done with the full cooperation of its staff and students.
[students living in Halls of residence, on campus, are currently charged £120 for their parking permit]
LCC Parking Study. The detail process revealed
The West Loughborough Parking Study will go to final advertising in the local press in May 2011. This will be the last chance for you to comment on the plans before they are implemented.
To read the Highways Dept. proposals for the advertising scheme click on the link below.
http://www.fileswap.com/dl/usgvofB4/West_Lough._Parking_Study_from_M_Sheldrake_18.02.11.doc.html
or at http://tinyurl.com/6cgqeqw
You should know that in certain areas there is no clear agreement as to what changes should be made, if any. It would really help if the residents of Coniston Crescent and the residents of Ashleigh/Mountfield could present a CLEAR view of what you want. For instance, in the Ashleigh area half want a residents' parking scheme and half don't, according to our information from the Highways Dept.
The recommendations of the CBC Parking Panel started to be implemented this year. University Security patrols are noting parked cars twice a day and then warning and fining repeat offenders. We have been told that there is a some improvement in the Ashleigh Drive area. And next year the registration of student cars will be part of the student enrolment process so further improvement can be anticipated.
However, the next post on this site contains important information about changes in the Universities parking rules!
To read the Highways Dept. proposals for the advertising scheme click on the link below.
http://www.fileswap.com/dl/usgvofB4/West_Lough._Parking_Study_from_M_Sheldrake_18.02.11.doc.html
or at http://tinyurl.com/6cgqeqw
You should know that in certain areas there is no clear agreement as to what changes should be made, if any. It would really help if the residents of Coniston Crescent and the residents of Ashleigh/Mountfield could present a CLEAR view of what you want. For instance, in the Ashleigh area half want a residents' parking scheme and half don't, according to our information from the Highways Dept.
The recommendations of the CBC Parking Panel started to be implemented this year. University Security patrols are noting parked cars twice a day and then warning and fining repeat offenders. We have been told that there is a some improvement in the Ashleigh Drive area. And next year the registration of student cars will be part of the student enrolment process so further improvement can be anticipated.
However, the next post on this site contains important information about changes in the Universities parking rules!
Sunday, 13 February 2011
WLPS Latest. Nicky Morgan MP wins reprieve.
The SwampedbyCars team have been in correspondence with Nicky Morgan MP and her assistant Jane Hunt, one of our local councillors, for some time about the West Loughborough Parking Study. Three weeks ago the Highways Department announced that the WLPS could no longer be funded this year and future funding looked doubtful. However, the outcry from across the town from both residents and councillors led to a meeting between LCC Highways Department and our MP and Jane Hunt on Friday 11th Feb.
We have been told by Nicky Morgan that the meeting was successful and the Highways Department have agreed to progress the WLPS by advertising it formally (part of the process for implementation) in May this year. The adverts will detail all the changes proposed for each separate area of the town so that each component of the scheme can be considered separately. In other words it will be possible for parts of the scheme to be implemented rather than the whole.
This will be your opportunity to comment on the detail proposals and indicate your support or opposition to the scheme proposed for your area.
We have been told by Nicky Morgan that the meeting was successful and the Highways Department have agreed to progress the WLPS by advertising it formally (part of the process for implementation) in May this year. The adverts will detail all the changes proposed for each separate area of the town so that each component of the scheme can be considered separately. In other words it will be possible for parts of the scheme to be implemented rather than the whole.
This will be your opportunity to comment on the detail proposals and indicate your support or opposition to the scheme proposed for your area.
New Parking proposals at the University
Following SbC's petition to CBC in 2009 and the Scrutiny Panel Report in 2010, that placed certain actions on the University, together with a Planning Requirement attached to their new East Park Design Building, the University is proposing new parking policies for staff and students.
New charges are proposed for staff and students. A ramped scale depending on car emissions, from £140 to £300 for a high emissions vehicle but zero for a near zero emission vehicle, similar to the London Congestion Charge. The present charge is £60 for both staff and students, although students living on campus are charged £120. There will be an increase in the number of pay and display car parks to cope with occasional visitors or those that choose to walk or cycle on most days.
These proposals are part of the University's revised Green Travel Plan that will promote walking, cycling and car sharing, to reduce the carbon footprint, reduce local traffic congestion and overspill parking on residential roads. A more frequent bus service is proposed with free travel on campus for students. Management of the scheme to be supplemented with the use of ANPR technology (Automated Number Plate Recognition).
Naturally the SbC team will be examining the proposals in detail when they are revealed to the public next month. Our concern will be for the unexpected consequences of the new policy such as an increase in students, and possibly staff, refusing to pay the new charges and trying to find parking on residential roads as an alternative. The recently introduced car registration scheme for students and the new Security patrols give us some confidence that our area will be protected but we don't want other areas of the town to suffer an increase in parking.
New charges are proposed for staff and students. A ramped scale depending on car emissions, from £140 to £300 for a high emissions vehicle but zero for a near zero emission vehicle, similar to the London Congestion Charge. The present charge is £60 for both staff and students, although students living on campus are charged £120. There will be an increase in the number of pay and display car parks to cope with occasional visitors or those that choose to walk or cycle on most days.
These proposals are part of the University's revised Green Travel Plan that will promote walking, cycling and car sharing, to reduce the carbon footprint, reduce local traffic congestion and overspill parking on residential roads. A more frequent bus service is proposed with free travel on campus for students. Management of the scheme to be supplemented with the use of ANPR technology (Automated Number Plate Recognition).
Naturally the SbC team will be examining the proposals in detail when they are revealed to the public next month. Our concern will be for the unexpected consequences of the new policy such as an increase in students, and possibly staff, refusing to pay the new charges and trying to find parking on residential roads as an alternative. The recently introduced car registration scheme for students and the new Security patrols give us some confidence that our area will be protected but we don't want other areas of the town to suffer an increase in parking.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
End of Jan 2011
Information received by SwampedbyCars is that the number of students fined by the University for parking in our controlled area since October is now in excess of 120, as recorded at the end of Jan.
Friday, 28 January 2011
Who are you going to call? Update Jan 2011.
If you are suffering from a student/university parking problem this is the first place to call. (Please record the car registration/s and have it by you when you call.)
Loughborough University Security 24 hour line. 01509 222141
Alison Barlow Community Community Relations Officer. 01509 228696
Alison can also be e mailed on A.J.Barlow@lboro.ac.uk
For our Local Police Team this is the contact information we have.
Neighbourhood Sergeant. Chris Wharton (1865)
PC Mike Green (1845)
PC Rachel Sharpe (4671)
Community Support Officers
Clare Mant (6065)
Shaheen Abdullah (6663)
To contact them, phone Leicester 0116 222 2222
Follow the instructions when prompted and enter the officers I.D. Number (shown in Brackets by their name) and leave a message.
There are student residents in this area and they may have cars. It is only those students, staff or vistors to the University that park in this area to access the University that are breaking our Traffic Regulation Order. SbC
Loughborough University Security 24 hour line. 01509 222141
Alison Barlow Community Community Relations Officer. 01509 228696
Alison can also be e mailed on A.J.Barlow@lboro.ac.uk
For our Local Police Team this is the contact information we have.
Neighbourhood Sergeant. Chris Wharton (1865)
PC Mike Green (1845)
PC Rachel Sharpe (4671)
Community Support Officers
Clare Mant (6065)
Shaheen Abdullah (6663)
To contact them, phone Leicester 0116 222 2222
Follow the instructions when prompted and enter the officers I.D. Number (shown in Brackets by their name) and leave a message.
There are student residents in this area and they may have cars. It is only those students, staff or vistors to the University that park in this area to access the University that are breaking our Traffic Regulation Order. SbC
West Loughborough Parking Study - Latest, Jan 2011
On Friday 21st January we were alerted that there was a problem implementing the results of the West Loughborough Parking Study. A review had taken place inside the County Council Highway's Department and it was established that the £50,000 previously budgeted to implement the WLPS was no longer available. [SbC have no idea at all if a press release made on the same day, about another matter, was related. The Highways Department announced that a review had found further monies to repair the severe winter damage to the County's roads.] A further review will take place in April/May 2011, however we were warned that, given the severe financial cut backs being faced by the County Council and the amount of work necessary to prepare the next Local Transport Plan (3), this may be difficult.
There are many residents of Loughborough, outside our area, that will be extremely disappointed at this news. The residents of Kingfisher Way, Outwoods Drive, Goods Yard Close and Wheeltappers Way, together with further work promised in the Ashby Road to Garendon Road area are now in abeyance. These areas suffer substantial parking problems and SbC will continue to press that they receive early implementation of their parking schemes. Local Councillors are extremely upset as well and we can expect them, and our MP Nicky Morgan, to be pressing the County Council for the earliest implementation or possibly even a fractional response that would allow the areas suffering the most to be treated separately. A meeting of the LCC Highways Dept deputy, our MP and Local Councillor will be held by the end of the second week in February.
There are many residents of Loughborough, outside our area, that will be extremely disappointed at this news. The residents of Kingfisher Way, Outwoods Drive, Goods Yard Close and Wheeltappers Way, together with further work promised in the Ashby Road to Garendon Road area are now in abeyance. These areas suffer substantial parking problems and SbC will continue to press that they receive early implementation of their parking schemes. Local Councillors are extremely upset as well and we can expect them, and our MP Nicky Morgan, to be pressing the County Council for the earliest implementation or possibly even a fractional response that would allow the areas suffering the most to be treated separately. A meeting of the LCC Highways Dept deputy, our MP and Local Councillor will be held by the end of the second week in February.
December 2010 Update
In December Anne Kingston of SwampedbyCars had a meeting with Alison Barlow the Community Relations Officer at the University. We were given an update on how the University has been implementing the CBC Panel Report, that was in response to our 2009 petition. We didn't publish this information at that time partly because it was going to be announced at the Campus Liaison Meeting on the 12th January and partly because of the 'flu that so many people in Loughborough were suffering over the Christmas period. Sorry. You can check below in this Blog for the full recommendations of the panel report but in short, the University and Loughborough College agreed to register student cars being brought to the town and use the Security Team to patrol the streets covered by the Transport Regulation Order, that prevents Staff and Student parking on our roads, and to take action as necessary. This is the information we were given in December; 1526 university students had registered a car by the end of October, another 436 were added to the register when they passed through the security barrier. From the patrols 43 students have been warned about parking in our area and of those 14 have been fined for a repeat offence. A further 15 students have had a formal warning for having a car when their accommodation terms included a 'no car' clause. These students have been warned to leave their cars at home or lose their accommodation. We were also told that the student enrolment in September 2011 will be strengthened to help ensure that as many student cars as possible are registered. The University's new Green Travel Plan, to encourage more walking and cycling to the campus for both staff and students will be ready in the summer. We think it would be helpful if the the Security Vehicles carry a sign, 'Parking Patrol', to warn and advise both students and residents. As you can see from the above, progress is being made. However there are still problem areas and we will be pressing for more action to be taken in the Coniston Crescent, Derwent Drive and Holywell Drive area, nearest the footpath entrance to the University, particularly around exam times in January and May/June when the Library is opening 24/7.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
October 2010 Update
There hasn't been a blog post since May because almost nothing has been happening relating to SwampedbyCars. Now that the new academic term has started at the university we can bring you up-date with a small amount of news.
The University has agreed to patrol the roads covered by the Traffic Regulation Order. Two security patrols a day, at random times, will collect registration numbers of those cars parked in the control area. As the University is now recording student car registrations it has the ability to identify student cars and issue warnings to those who are breaking the University regulation that prohibits staff, students and visitors from parking in the controlled area between Forest Road and the campus and from Conway Crescent to the end of the service road on Ashby Road.
Contact details will be confirmed shortly.
You may remember the West Loughborough parking Study that initially proposed making our area a residents' preference parking zone. We campaigned to reduce the proposals as we didn't want to be swamped with student cars, parking in the permit bays or having student parking in the evenings or at weekends. The County Council Highways Department are still going ahead with a reduced scheme but it is much delayed for operational reasons. However, we have been assured by Mr Sheldrake, the team leader for this project, that it is still progressing and even though there may be finance cuts at the Highways Dept. the West Loughborough Study is so far advanced that it will still be implemented. There was a proposal to circulate everyone in the area with the changes that were made following a series of public meetings. But, that suggestion has now been dropped and residents are urged to keep watch for the 'Public Notice' that will appear soon in The Loughborough Echo where the scheme details will be displayed together with a deadline for final objections.
The more observant of you may have noticed that where double yellow lines are proposed then the limits have been paint marked on the pavements in our area by a small pale yellow splodge of paint.
We will post more news on this site as and when it becomes available.
The University has agreed to patrol the roads covered by the Traffic Regulation Order. Two security patrols a day, at random times, will collect registration numbers of those cars parked in the control area. As the University is now recording student car registrations it has the ability to identify student cars and issue warnings to those who are breaking the University regulation that prohibits staff, students and visitors from parking in the controlled area between Forest Road and the campus and from Conway Crescent to the end of the service road on Ashby Road.
Contact details will be confirmed shortly.
You may remember the West Loughborough parking Study that initially proposed making our area a residents' preference parking zone. We campaigned to reduce the proposals as we didn't want to be swamped with student cars, parking in the permit bays or having student parking in the evenings or at weekends. The County Council Highways Department are still going ahead with a reduced scheme but it is much delayed for operational reasons. However, we have been assured by Mr Sheldrake, the team leader for this project, that it is still progressing and even though there may be finance cuts at the Highways Dept. the West Loughborough Study is so far advanced that it will still be implemented. There was a proposal to circulate everyone in the area with the changes that were made following a series of public meetings. But, that suggestion has now been dropped and residents are urged to keep watch for the 'Public Notice' that will appear soon in The Loughborough Echo where the scheme details will be displayed together with a deadline for final objections.
The more observant of you may have noticed that where double yellow lines are proposed then the limits have been paint marked on the pavements in our area by a small pale yellow splodge of paint.
We will post more news on this site as and when it becomes available.
Monday, 24 May 2010
Monday 24th May News Items
When we set up the campaign group SwampedbyCars it was in response to a proposal, from the County Council's 'West Loughborough Parking Study' to turn our roads into car parks where residents, have to pay, and students park for free. At that time we circulated a note to residents explaining the proposed 'parking permit scheme' would cost £20; although we stated that the prices would increase. Today people living in Loughborough parking permit zones have been told that the cost of a parking permit will rise to £30 in June. Furthermore, the office at CBC will close and all permits will be issued from County Hall. Applications will have to be made by phone, using credit or debit cards. No personal visits will be allowed. A new scheme will be introduced for builders and traders. The books of visitor of tickets remain unchanged.
One of the problems that we raised with the Council was the University's change of library opening times to 24 hour access during exam periods - twice a year. A lot of students are parking at entrances during evenings and nightimes particularly at Coniston Crescent with disruption to local residents. The University was asked in the CBC panel report to investigate nightime noise in this area. In the meantime, we sent an e mail to the University asking that they open car parks, on temporary basis, for student library visitors. We heard last week that the University has implemented this suggestion and students can now get limited permits for nighttime access to the library at modest cost.
The CBC Panel Report on University Parking and Entrances asked that the implementation of their recommendations be overseen by the Campus Liaison Group. This is a body that was set up in 2000, following the public meetings, to consider the parking problems raised by the University South Side Residents' group. As explained earlier in this blog, SbC is the sucessor of the residents group which only campaigned on one issue; inconsiderate university parking on local roads. Naturally you would expect SwampedbyCars to play a full part in the University Campus Liaison Group? However, we are experiencing problems being admitted to this group, even though we were the reason for it being set up originally. The Liaison Group only meets on a three-monthly basis and the next meeting is this evening. We have a member of our team awaiting a last minute change of mind by the University to attend this evenings meeting. Both the West Loughborough Parking Study and the CBC Panel Report on Parking are on the agenda.
We will let you know if our representative is allowing to attend the meeting in a later post.
One of the problems that we raised with the Council was the University's change of library opening times to 24 hour access during exam periods - twice a year. A lot of students are parking at entrances during evenings and nightimes particularly at Coniston Crescent with disruption to local residents. The University was asked in the CBC panel report to investigate nightime noise in this area. In the meantime, we sent an e mail to the University asking that they open car parks, on temporary basis, for student library visitors. We heard last week that the University has implemented this suggestion and students can now get limited permits for nighttime access to the library at modest cost.
The CBC Panel Report on University Parking and Entrances asked that the implementation of their recommendations be overseen by the Campus Liaison Group. This is a body that was set up in 2000, following the public meetings, to consider the parking problems raised by the University South Side Residents' group. As explained earlier in this blog, SbC is the sucessor of the residents group which only campaigned on one issue; inconsiderate university parking on local roads. Naturally you would expect SwampedbyCars to play a full part in the University Campus Liaison Group? However, we are experiencing problems being admitted to this group, even though we were the reason for it being set up originally. The Liaison Group only meets on a three-monthly basis and the next meeting is this evening. We have a member of our team awaiting a last minute change of mind by the University to attend this evenings meeting. Both the West Loughborough Parking Study and the CBC Panel Report on Parking are on the agenda.
We will let you know if our representative is allowing to attend the meeting in a later post.
Monday, 3 May 2010
Announcements May 2010
Implementation of improved controls on student parking and other 'green' transport initiatives on the campus are to be overseen by the Loughborough Campus and Community Liaison Group. This group is composed of representatives from the University, local resident groups, the Council, police and a landlords group; it meets quarterly and its next meeting is on Thursday 24th May. The SwampedbyCars team have asked to be represented by cooption of one of its members In this way we will be able to keep you informed of progress and developments.
Police Priority Setting. Our local police team wants your help in setting local priorities. The current policy priorities for this area are:
Tackle rowdy behaviour and drinking in the alcohol free zone, Ashby Road area, between 8pm and 4am. Tackle acts of criminal damage and rowdy behaviour, Kingfisher Way area, between 2pm and 8pm daily.
Our local bobby, David Green, covers a huge area from Nanpantan to the Derby Road. It includes all the roads between Ashby Road and Forest Road, the whole of the University and the Storer Road student housing area. To assist him we have two PCSO's Shaheen Abdullah and Clare Mant.
If you want to make suggestions for police priorities in this area you can fill in a form at www.leics.police.uk/loughborough and return it to Citizens' Focus Office, Police Station, Loughborough LE11 2XF. At the same web address you can also see local crime maps and check for information on monthly meetings with the public. You can also e mail your local police team from the same web-site.
Police Priority Setting. Our local police team wants your help in setting local priorities. The current policy priorities for this area are:
Tackle rowdy behaviour and drinking in the alcohol free zone, Ashby Road area, between 8pm and 4am. Tackle acts of criminal damage and rowdy behaviour, Kingfisher Way area, between 2pm and 8pm daily.
Our local bobby, David Green, covers a huge area from Nanpantan to the Derby Road. It includes all the roads between Ashby Road and Forest Road, the whole of the University and the Storer Road student housing area. To assist him we have two PCSO's Shaheen Abdullah and Clare Mant.
If you want to make suggestions for police priorities in this area you can fill in a form at www.leics.police.uk/loughborough and return it to Citizens' Focus Office, Police Station, Loughborough LE11 2XF. At the same web address you can also see local crime maps and check for information on monthly meetings with the public. You can also e mail your local police team from the same web-site.
Good news For Local Residents. April 2010
By supporting the SbC team you have played an important part in keeping our roads free of student cars. The Cabinet of Charnwood Borough Council finally accepted the recommendations of the investigation panel on Thursday 18th April. The major gain for residents is that the University will register student cars and share this information with the Council. The University Security will then patrol our streets and stop students parking on the roads covered by our Traffic Exclusion Order. This order has been in place since 2002 and covers all the roads between Forest Road and the University campus from Epinal Way to Kirkstone Drive. It also covers Cotswold Close, Ashby Road and the New Ashby Road. The University has added this control into its internal regulatations and students who park in these areas, whilst accessing the University, will be subject to university discipline.
The University has announced that it will implement the registration and enforcement policy from academic year 2010/2011.
The Panel's Report also recommends that the bus service to the University be improved, that a shuttle bus operate within the campus together with a number of other 'green' transport initiatives. These improvements should help to reduce the car-culture amongst students on the campus.
The University has announced that it will implement the registration and enforcement policy from academic year 2010/2011.
The Panel's Report also recommends that the bus service to the University be improved, that a shuttle bus operate within the campus together with a number of other 'green' transport initiatives. These improvements should help to reduce the car-culture amongst students on the campus.
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Charnwood Highways Forum 31st March
Our panel report continues to progress through the CBC committee structure and last week it was considered by the Highways Forum. Since our council handed over responsibility for roads, pavements and flower beds to the County Council, this is the forum where Borough Councillors and County Councillors meet with the leader of the Highways Team to review progress and set priorities for the whole of the Charnwood area.
There is a backlog of work within the Highways Department whilst new projects, such as the Loughborough Eastern Gateway have been added to their workload.
Generally the panel report was well received and below are some of the comments.
Many of the recommendations within the report rely on the University to implement, it was suggested that a list of university actions, with deadlines, be added to the report. The suggestion of better walking and cycling facilities, the increased bus service and addition of an internal shuttle bus for the University were welcomed. But there should also be a review of all the service bus routes, particularly the No 4 route, to ensure that stopping places and student access to the University coincide.
It was reported that the Forum had been asked to consider the 'Arnos Grove' scheme of parking restriction. This ensures that long term parking is stopped by there being a closed period each day for an hour. Councillor Lewis reported that this suggestion was not wanted by the SbC campaigners as it implied that parking for the other 23 hours was acceptable. He also reported that SbC had suggested, rather than close the Coniston entrance at 10.30pm, when the University Library is open 24 hours a day, that the Library be required to close at 9pm or 10pm, so that the nuisance experienced in Coniston Crescent is not displaced to the Spinney Hill Drive entrance. He agreed that there might be displacement of the nuisance but he didn't agree with our suggestion of shorter library hours, even though it is mostly the computer facilities that are in demand at nighttime.
Mike Sheldrake, the Highways Area Team Leader, responded to the delay issues. He also suggested that to avoid even more delay the final round of consultations for the West Loughborough Parking Study be scrapped and that the scheme now proceed to the legal and advertisement stage. Residents will still be able to voice their comments at this stage so removing the formal consultation stage should help speed up the process.
The SwampedbyCars team advise all local residents to check for the adverts appearing in the Loughborough Echo and make your views known to the Highways Team.
There is a backlog of work within the Highways Department whilst new projects, such as the Loughborough Eastern Gateway have been added to their workload.
Generally the panel report was well received and below are some of the comments.
Many of the recommendations within the report rely on the University to implement, it was suggested that a list of university actions, with deadlines, be added to the report. The suggestion of better walking and cycling facilities, the increased bus service and addition of an internal shuttle bus for the University were welcomed. But there should also be a review of all the service bus routes, particularly the No 4 route, to ensure that stopping places and student access to the University coincide.
It was reported that the Forum had been asked to consider the 'Arnos Grove' scheme of parking restriction. This ensures that long term parking is stopped by there being a closed period each day for an hour. Councillor Lewis reported that this suggestion was not wanted by the SbC campaigners as it implied that parking for the other 23 hours was acceptable. He also reported that SbC had suggested, rather than close the Coniston entrance at 10.30pm, when the University Library is open 24 hours a day, that the Library be required to close at 9pm or 10pm, so that the nuisance experienced in Coniston Crescent is not displaced to the Spinney Hill Drive entrance. He agreed that there might be displacement of the nuisance but he didn't agree with our suggestion of shorter library hours, even though it is mostly the computer facilities that are in demand at nighttime.
Mike Sheldrake, the Highways Area Team Leader, responded to the delay issues. He also suggested that to avoid even more delay the final round of consultations for the West Loughborough Parking Study be scrapped and that the scheme now proceed to the legal and advertisement stage. Residents will still be able to voice their comments at this stage so removing the formal consultation stage should help speed up the process.
The SwampedbyCars team advise all local residents to check for the adverts appearing in the Loughborough Echo and make your views known to the Highways Team.
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