Broadcast: News items
New car parking charges from September
Posted on behalf of: University of Sussex
Last updated: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Drivers are reminded that charges for car parking on campus will go up from Saturday (1 September).
The increase, announced in June 2012, is the first since February 2011, when a new charging system and structure was introduced.
For full-time staff, the new rate from 1 September for a permit for parking on campus will be £360 per year, paid by salary deduction at £30 a month. Staff who buy an annual permit will continue to pay pro rata according to their contracted hours (e.g. if 0.5FTE, the charge would be £15 a month).
The charge for an annual student permit will be £198 per year (equal to £66 per term).
Daily parking charges will be £2.50 for staff and £1.30 for students. Payment for daily parking will continue to be by scratch cards (accompanied by a University of Sussex pass to park, issued on request and free of charge to all valid staff and students).
The charge for casual (external) users – who pay via machines – will increase to £7.50 for six hours (up from £6), but will be available in more flexible chunks of two hours (costing £2.50).
For details of other charges (which will increase proportionately), see the Transport web pages.
Parking charges will continue to apply Monday to Friday only and from 9am to 5pm.
Exemptions for disabled drivers and motorcyclists will remain in place.
John Duffy, Registrar & Secretary, explains: “Car parking on campus needs to cover its costs – and income from parking charges currently brings in less than the cost of creating and maintaining the 1,800 parking spaces on campus.
“This is the second stage of the phased increases in parking charges, effective from February 2011, which reduce but do not yet eliminate the subsidy of car parking by the University.”
The University expects to make another increase in parking charges in September 2013, in order to reduce the subsidy further.
Repeating something untrue does not make it true. Car parking charges are calculated to rise to cover the entire transport budget NOT just car parking costs. Those parking on campus are being charged to also cover costs incurred by road users who do not park, eg. construction lorries, delivery trucks, buses. And these charges are also used to cover non driving commuters with no initiatives to support a transition from the car to alternative transport modes.
As a cyclist I applaud (metaphorically) these increases in parking fees. I hope that the extra money is used wisely, and I know I speak for all the cyclists on campus when asking that the cycle path leading from Sussex House to Bramber House be levelled out. The gradient is currently set too high, causing undue stress, sweat and indeed exhaustion (literally) to those who travel this path; many having cycled great distances before encountering this kick in the teeth (again, metaphorically).
As per our previous comments on this 'story'; it was established that the revenue from car parking was subsidising the entire transport budget, so please stop telling us that +-£30k a month does not cover the cost of car parking.
"John Duffy, Registrar & Secretary, explains: “Car parking on campus needs to cover its costs – and income from parking charges currently brings in less than the cost of creating and maintaining the 1,800 parking spaces on campus.
“This is the second stage of the phased increases in parking charges, effective from February 2011, which reduce but do not yet eliminate the subsidy of car parking by the University.”
From Katie Damen on 29 August 2012
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