RESIDENTS are at the end of their tether over parking problems roads around Alton College. They are being over-run by students who park on the side roads. It is a problem recognised by Alton College and a public meeting is to be called in late May/early June to find a solution. Leading the campaign are the residents of Edward and Alexandra Road – the first port of call for on- street parking at the entrance to the college car park. Long-time resident Mary Westbrook has been campaigning since 1991 – firstly to secure traffic calming, and then for residents parking rights. Speed humps were introduced in 1992, but a bid to secure a 20mph limit failed because the road did not meet Department of Transport criteria. In 1995 Hampshire County Council was persuaded to change the priority at the entrance to the college car park in favour of drivers turning into Alexandra Road, but residents complain that many drivers ignore the priority ruling and there are many near- misses. Over the past 16 years, as the college has expanded and increased its intake to more than 2,000 students, the parking situation in Edward and Alexandra Road has got progressively worse. Residents have written to the principal and been reassured on numerous occasions that an appeal would be made to students to be more considerate. They have also been advised to report those who are not to the college and to the police. Now, with plans for a new engineering block, the thought of more construction work traffic taking up on-site parking space is seen as the last straw. Vehicles parked everywhere are causing problems of access, with residents unable to get out of garages, unable to return if they take the car out during the day to shop, and unable to entertain visitors. They quote examples of emergency and service vehicles being unable to get through, of litter and bottles on roads and pavements, and of the arrogant manner of some students asked to park elsewhere, especially as a lot of the time the college car park appears to stand empty. They are urging HCC to introduce a residents parking scheme at the earliest possible opportunity. County councillor Tony Ludlow said that while a residents parking scheme is on the cards, difficulty with funding means that it will not be possible to deal with the whole town in one hit. There is a meeting at the end of this month to discuss the priority listing but, he said: "I see that parking here is a very serious problem." Disgruntled residents, including those from the Wooteys and Greenfields estates, gatecrashed a meeting at Alton College last Wednesday, called to discuss plans for the new engineering block. It was unfortunate timing for the college but their message was heard and a public meeting is planned. College vice principal Steve McCormack points out that as Alton is the only college in East Hampshire, and because of its reputation for excellence, students travel long distances, often from remote rural areas. The college works hard to get students to use public transport with over 1,000 coming by bus and 100 plus on the train – ticket subsidy and transport grants costs the college around £250k a year. The college discourages the use of cars but for those who do drive car park permits are available, for a nominal charge of £1.40 a week, to cover the cost of a car park attendant. While the amount of car parking on the site is controlled by the planners, when the current building work is completed in September this year there will be more spaces (around 388) than the college has ever had. He further stressed: "The College had never replaced car parking space with building". In admitting that there was an issue with car parking and relationships with some neighbours "which the college deeply regrets," Mr McCormack said that it does do a lot of work with the students "to encourage them to park lawfully and be respectful to residents."
