Roads and pavements leading up to the University have been jam-packed with parked cars over the last few weeks, following work on Langwith and Campus South car parks.
The vehicles half-mount the pavement and obstruct both pedestrians on the street and moving vehicles on the road. Peter Rek, a second year Economics student commented, “walking past people has become a right hassle” and that “cycling is even more of a chore, if a bus is trying to overtake you it becomes a right mess!” highlighting fears surrounding safety on the roads.
A majority of the cars display staff car park permits, which has prompted the university to send out an angry email to its employees claiming that certain staff had been “contravening parking regulations.”
However, one anonymous lecturer pointed out, “with no yellow lines or parking restrictions on the road, it would seem that there are no parking regulations to contravene.”
Responding to these allegations, the university press officer, David Garner, said they had “made contact with City of York Council, which has statutory responsibility for enforcing on-street parking regulations,” additionally stating that they “are informing the Police of any cars causing an obstruction in this location.”
The university advises that there are parts of the car park still open in addition to further parking spaces in Halifax / St Lawrence Court, Fairfax House and Heslington East (which includes a free shuttle bus to Heslington West).