TO STAFF AND STUDENTS

CAR PARK MANAGEMENT SCHEME APPROVED BY COUNCIL

At a meeting of Council held on 4th July 2003, the Scheme for Car Park Management charging set out below was approved by a majority of two to one.

The principle of car park charging had already been agreed by Council at its meeting on 9th May and reaffirmed at a further meeting on 20th June. At the meeting on 9th May, it was agreed that the University would give further consideration to the views of staff representatives and individual members of staff.

Consequently, a number of meetings took place with staff representatives, in accordance with the agreement. Their views and the views of a large number of individual members of staff who communicated directly with senior management were discussed in detail by the Car Park Management Group. Every communication from individual members of staff was given the fullest consideration as part of this process. Following this, the Strategic Planning Group received and approved a number of modifications to the Scheme. This resulted in three options being tabled at Council on 4th July. Option A, which is set out below, was approved.

No viable alternative

The University is deeply conscious of and sensitive to the strong feelings amongst staff and students that this matter has aroused. It is not a decision that was taken lightly. However, the need to regulate car park usage was urgent and apparent to all. The range of options, each of which was carefully considered by the University and its specialist advisers, was limited. Nothing was excluded from consideration. But alternatives such as reclaiming lawns and other spaces for car parking and building multi-storey parking facilities had to be ruled out for either environmental or financial reasons. The reality is that as the largest university on the island of Ireland, we are the victims of our own growth.

Clamping not an alternative

It is important to emphasise that clamping was introduced to take action against those who continued to park in spaces reserved for the disabled, at corners and other areas marked by double yellow lines, on pavements and verges and in ways which dangerously restricted access to entrances and exits. It has been a success in that regard.

However, car park charging is being introduced for a different purpose and one that clamping on its own could not achieve. That is to reduce the demand upon our car parks which have been overwhelmed. Part of the reason for this is the significant increase in the number of cars used by students. It is also relevant that the majority of vehicles using our campuses are single occupant.

Details of the Scheme

1. In order to reduce the financial impact upon staff but still achieve the objective of a reduction in the volume of vehicles using the University car parks, the University will extend the pay back period on its investment from six to nearly eight years. This will allow for the average level of charging to be reduced by approximately 13% from the Scheme originally tabled at the first meeting of Council.

2. As a consequence of this major concession by the University, the following modifications can take place, taking account of concerns raised during the discussion process by staff representatives.

(i) Disabled staff and students in possession of a government blue badge will not be charged for parking.

(ii) The banding system will be replaced by a percentage of salary, as suggested by staff representatives at the meeting on 22nd May. It is felt that, on balance, the percentage scheme is inherently fairer and a less costly administrative burden. Equally important, it eliminates the possibility of a rise in an individual’s salary being disproportionally eroded by an increase in car park charges as a consequence of moving to a higher band. The rates will now be:

Staff:

- £80 for staff with a salary of up to £14,999 (£1.53 pence per week)

- all other staff 0.7% of salary, subject to a £500 per annum maximum tariff

Students

- £80 per annum (£1.53 pence per week)

The average car park charge under this scheme will now be £117 per annum which compares favourably with any other such scheme in the United Kingdom.

(iii) The hourly tariff banding will be reduced from two hour to one hour bands, up to six hours. This will have the effect of reducing the charge to a three hour user by 30 pence and a five hour user by 20 pence, for example.

Flexible Payment Scheme

A flexible payment scheme, by annual permit, top-up card or by the hour rate has been designed to take account of the circumstances of staff, student and visitor users. The first half hour will be free.

Enhanced Security

A significant benefit of the Scheme will be enhanced security for users. Vehicular exit will be controlled; there will be extensive CCTV surveillance; and there will be increased mobile security patrolling.

Review

The Scheme will be reviewed at the end of the next academic year, when the take up of permits compared to those paying the hourly rate and the impact upon the demand for spaces, will have settled into an established pattern.

A diverse range of people use our car parks. For example, we have volunteers who come to help in sporting and cultural activities, those who attend performances at the Riverside Theatre and people coming to dine at the Academy Restaurant at our Portrush site. These are only examples. The arrangements for categories of users such as these will be published in due course.

The importance of your co-operation

The University asks every member of the staff and student communities and visitors to be conscious of the importance of good relations with the residents around our campuses. This applies especially to parking in surrounding streets and the impact this would have on the quality of lives of those people who have been so tolerant to the disruption to their daily lives caused by the presence of a major University in their midst.

You will be aware that the primary purpose of the new arrangements and the other initiatives taking place, is to reduce demand upon car parking provision and thus to free spaces so that we can accommodate everyone. You will be aware also that these other initiatives include the introduction of car sharing software to encourage and facilitate cheaper and more convenient travel to the University and also discussions with Translink and other authorities to improve the public transport service by finding out the level of demand for improvements.

An end to car park disorder

Like any new scheme, the early stages will require patience and tolerance from everyone. With your help and co-operation, and the impact of clamping on abusage, we hope to see the end of the disorder and lack of management that meant inconvenience and even danger to car park users. The objective is to replace this by an ordered and regulated system that will contribute to the betterment of life at each of our campuses.

Tailbacks

There has been concern about tailbacks on to the main roads around our campuses at peak periods in the morning and evening. Specialist advice was sought on this matter in drawing up the Scheme. The proposed infrastructural changes, including a number of lanes to be built to facilitate entry and exit to our campuses, have taken this into account.

Keeping you informed

Discussions with the DoE and other authorities on final planning approval in regard to signage and infrastructural changes have been taking place in parallel with this internal approval process in the normal way. On completion of this process, the changes to our entrances and exits necessary for the introduction of the Car Park Management Scheme will take place. Staff and students will be kept aware, on a regular basis, of developments in this and any other aspect of the Scheme, including any impact on campus life of work in progress.

The Car Park Management Working Group