Post 16 | Parking Is Not Student ASB…
When speaking with neighbours and friends about student ASB, the conversation sometimes moves on to another impact RHUL is having on the community – parking. And parking, and especially the idea of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) is very divisive….
Before commenting on this topic, I need to get this out of the way: parking is not an ASB issue unless a vehicle is parked inconsiderately or dangerously. I feel that it is really important to make this point so that the two issues are not clouded.
The parking problem on some streets in Egham & Englefield Green, especially those near to the campus, can be attributed primarily to RHUL. There are three types of RHUL user: students that live in university accommodation that use the streets for parking, students who live in HMOs where some households have multiple cars per house (sometimes as many as there are rooms) and the third are the students/ staff commuting to campus that park for the day/ part of the day.
If you believe that it is preferred for residents (whether they be students or not) to be able to park on the street they live, ideally near their home, then something probably does need to be done.
A well thought out CPZ scheme would probably address the problem but is not my preferred. An alternative solution would be for RHUL to provide a large enough provision of affordable (and that means possibly free) parking on campus for both all its students that live on campus AND for all its students and staff that commute to the campus each day.
For RBC’s Planning Department to allow an existing car park (60 spaces) to become a drone flying facility would not be in the best interest of the local community. I know RHUL would like a drone flying facility for its prospectus – how many universities can boast about having one of those – but there are basic necessities that need to be considered first.
At the same time, for RHUL to be offering a one off payment of £46,703.50 to RBC to support a CPZ, with a further one off monitoring fee payment of £2,335.18, in light of its Rusham Park application seems more of a bung than most Section 106 agreements. But that is me being cynical perhaps.
I don’t know the set up costs of implementing a CPZ but I would have thought this apparently generous ‘donation’ is probably not generous enough. The cost of setting up the system, the hard infrastructure, the ongoing management, the enforcement etc – this sum will be gobbled up in no time. Those that are shouting ‘stealth tax’ are probably right – RBC would want the CPZ to wash its face and some. Unfortunately I believe it would need more capital to set up and it would need an ongoing contribution from the residents to make it break even day to day.
If we look at Windsor as an example of a town with an extensive CPZ, residents pay £50pa for the first permit and £70pa for the second currently. Egham & Englefield residents I think should expect to spend the same. More information on Windsor’s CPZ can be found here:
As a side note, some have highlighted that the parking problem can be attributed to other members of the public, including Heathrow users. No doubt some leisure travellers may use our streets for their parking needs in these harder times. And I am sure there are other groups that could be identified too. But these groups I think are very secondary. I thought I would share a couple of photos of South Road, Englefield Green to highlight the RHUL impact. **See group Media** A & B were taken on Sat 17th December 2022, when RHUL had broken up for Christmas. The third, C, was taken on Mon 9th Jan 2023, the university’s first day back.
There is another Councillors’ Surgery taking place tomorrow, Saturday 14th January at 1000 at St Jude’s Church. The focus of the surgery is the parking issue. I am sure the debate will be interesting. Are you keen to come along? My question to the councillors will be, ‘Why should local residents pay for a solution to a problem that is caused primarily by RHUL?’
As you may have gathered, I am not personally in favour of a CPZ but I know for many the problem is now out of hand. And a CPZ is a solution; and one that is on the table. Here, keep an eye out for a survey (or possibly two) that will ask your opinions on 1) Student ASB and 2) CPZs. It/ they will be promoted in the coming weeks.
Best wishes,
A Gnat
PS The post on the future of a 100 Gnats will be shared shortly. (The pending Councillors’ Surgery bumped the parking topic up the list of things to be posted.)