College students banned from parking on campus

From next month, Blackburn College is stopping students from leaving vehicles on its car parks in a bid to encourage the use of buses.

But critics, including concerned traders and angry students, said that the move would create an increased scramble for town centre parking spaces which were already at a premium.

Hundreds of spaces at the college's three car parks - off Feilden Street, Blakey Moor and Duke Street - will be reserved for staff only.

A wheel clamping system has been used for the last four years at the college's car parks, for cars without a permit, or if they are parking in an unauthorised space.

The weekday clamping system - with £70 on-the-spot fines - was already unpopular with students, and a campaign had been launched against it.

Daniela Zappa, 22, from Barrow, who set up the Parking Mad anti-clamp campaign, said banning students from parking on the campus was an even bigger blow.

She said: "I can't believe they're doing this, and without even warning us last term about it.

"I think most students will be really angry about it. Most of the people in my class drive.

"I study design and most days I have to bring quite a bit of equipment to college such as lighting and tripods. I couldn't bring all that on a bus. There are public car parks near but they cost at least £100 per term which I can't afford.

"Buses are not reliable, and for me, there's only one every 45 minutes from my village. It's not convenient. And I don't think many girls will be happy about having to wait for buses in winter when it's dark. It's not safe. I'll be stepping up the campaign against this."

David Cottam, president of Blackburn Chamber of Trade, said the move was of great concern to traders.

He said: "Although we've been trying to encourage public transport for some time, it's not realistic to think that students will stop using their cars.

"They'll just start parking elsewhere.

"A big worry is that residential areas like in Oakenhurst Road will get even more clogged up, which is bad for residents, but also as it is an emergency ambulance route - if it got even more congested.

"This is a major concern and the chamber will be looking into it."

A Blackburn businessman who goes under the name of Mr Meteroff is leading a campaign calling for free town centre parking.

He said: "This will cause big problems, and it will be a nightmare for students to find alternative parking.

"It will affect those who want to get on in life and better themselves."

Previously, students at Blackburn College could buy an £70 year-long car parking permit which would allow them to park in the three college-run car parks.

Some 150 students had a permit.

A spokesperson for Blackburn College, which has 20,000 pupils, said: "The college has introduced an improved public transport offer from September, giving big reductions on bus travel to our students.

"Student finance are able to give transport advice on 01254 292529.

"Staff can buy parking passes annually at a cost of £70 and car parking places are available on a first-come-first-served basis."

Coun Andy Kay, a former executive member for regeneration in the borough, said: "One of the college's problems is that it is getting more popular and therefore bigger, and that means more cars which causes causes major town centre problems.

"I can understand why the college is encouraging more bus travel.

"Anybody would recognise that it's more comfortable to use your car but it means that town centres nationwide are struggling to cope.

"People need to look at alternative transport."