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.