Bournemouth University Parking Issues

AGENDA ITEM 5 - APPENDIX B

BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY PARKING ISSUES NOTE FOR MEETING, FRIDAY 20 JULY 2007

1. Background

Major development of the Talbot campus of Bournemouth University in the 1990s was managed by a legal agreement (Section 106 of the Planning Act) which provided University funding for on-street parking controls in nearby areas of Poole and Bournemouth. The agreement also required the University to operate a one-mile ‘exclusion zone’ on students parking on-street. Management of car trips to and from the growing University was and continues to be important given the high traffic levels and congestion experienced on Wallisdown Road.

More recent developments at the Talbot and Lansdowne Campus sites have involved planning conditions requiring effective Travel Plans. These have included a bespoke network of University Bus Services, and improved facilities for those cycling and walking to the campus.

2. The ‘Exclusion Zone’

The 1992 legal agreement with the University imposed a 1 mile exclusion zone on students’ cars to prevent those displaced by on-site parking restrictions just moving into the adjacent residential streets. The University required their students to register their cars and University staff then monitored the adjacent streets to check for offending vehicles.

From the early days however there was a problem with additional vehicles parking in the residential streets and it was not always possible to establish if the vehicles were owned by University students or others, including those attending the adjacent Arts Institute – which was not part of the Section 106 agreement, so does not operate an exclusion zone.

The University has had practical difficulties in enforcing the exclusion zone, and its 1 mile extent means that students parking cars in Winton shopping centre could theoretically be subject to University disciplinary procedures. Poole, the Local Highway Authority for the Talbot Campus since 1997 are concerned that the 1992 legal agreement may be ultra vires, and support the University in wishing to find a more appropriate management regime, which complements the Travel Plans of the University and the Arts Institute.

3. The On-street Parking Controls

Over the past ten years, Bournemouth and Poole Councils have progressively introduced waiting prohibitions in the residential areas

1 surrounding the Talbot Campus, but only in streets where surveys had indicated there was support from the majority of residents. This includes the whole of Talbot Village in Poole, and sections of Talbot Woods in Bournemouth (including Huntley, Cawdor, Carrbridge, Alford, Keith, Cawdor,Elgin, Dunkeld Roads and Roslin Road South) and Alton Road.

Whilst initially successful, some parking was however displaced into neighbouring streets and residents in those roads (who had previously been unaffected) then requested the introduction of additional restrictions. The Councils have therefore subsequently widened the extent of the restrictions in phases as the parking problems have moved out. The latest being the provision of a Controlled Parking Zone (Mon- Fri 10-11am and 2.30-3.30pm 15 Sept – 15 June Except Bank Holidays) covering sections of Glenmoor, Talbot, Heathwood, Firs Glen and Woods View Roads.

4. Recent Issues

Migration of the student parking problems has prompted further letters of complaint and the University have subsequently requested that the matter is looked into in more detail as part of their ‘Studentification’ initiative. This considers the impact of students on the local community and how the University can address any concerns highlighted.

A number of residents have now requested the introduction of Residents Parking Schemes (where permits would give preference to residents), however Bournemouth’s policy is currently to only consider them if residents have no alternative off-street parking, which is not the case in these streets. Furthermore when this was considered for streets to the East of Heathwood Road (where properties do not have off street facilities) there was major opposition to the scheme proposals and no controls were introduced.

The University are concerned that the 1 mile exclusion zone is unenforceable (if not illegal) and are thus requesting that Poole Council delete this requirement from the Section 106 Agreement. Whilst the 1 mile exclusion zone clearly has many practical problems, both Highway Authorities, the University and the Arts Institute are concerned that the parking problems affecting residents do not deteriorate as a result.

5. Draft Proposal

As the responsible officers of the two Highway Authorities, we put forward the following draft proposal for consideration by the meeting:

A. Legal advice be sought on the most appropriate way of removing the 1 mile exclusion zone from the 1992 legal agreement.

2 B. The University provide a fund, not exceeding £35,000, to the two Highway Authorities to cover the administrative, legal and signage costs associated with implementing Traffic Regulation Orders for on-street waiting restrictions, in areas where a majority of residents agree, in a 1km zone around the Talbot Campus.

Mike Campkin Chris Francombe Bournemouth Borough Council Borough of Poole

CF/1173 18 July 2007