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.