University Travel Hub & Parking
There was a forum meeting in Allestree involving local councillors, representatives of residnents, council officials and the University Head of Estates, Andrew Bevan.
These are draft notes from the meeting so some details may need clarifying but the broad picture is covered.
Andrew Bevan – Interim Head of Estates, Derby University thanked Councillors for the opportunity to share an update at the forum and welcomes future invitations to meetings. The University are keen to engage with local residents in the area.
Car parking spaces
University is not reducing car parking at Kedleston Road site. Currently has 1100 car parking spaces, if removed 800 spaces the University would fail to continue to operate.
Mobility Hub
University is working on developing a mobility hub – not reducing car parking spaces but building a future mobility hub with Toyota. The facility will include Bike storage; Bike hire; bike repair. Will include electric car and motorbike charging points, etc. By time it is completed the university will have invested £1m in active travel. (Definition of Active Travel - Making journeys by physically active means, like walking or cycling.)
Ideally, the university would like to get everyone out of their cars but aware that it is a long term vision. The university continually works to try and educate staff and students.
Parking on residential streets
Andrew’s team have recently been out along the jitties and main pedestrian routes that access the University from residential streets and providing advice to staff and students on how not to negatively impact residents with their parking as well as installing a number of maps along the routes to provide maps of restricted parking areas and highlighted areas where people should not be parking to ensure the University are good neighbours.
Expansion of the University in the City Centre
The university are developing a site on St James Street & looking to move a number of departments into the city centre & building business school in the city centre. This means more of a move to the city centre while Kedleston Road will become central hub for human sciences and biomedical subjects.
Questions
Unibus – Do they consider it is delivering for students – previously well used service and a frequent service? Now seems that there is less frequency and seen incidences of students not being able to get on the bus when it arrives.
Andrew: Changed frequency to every half hour and a double decker bus. Can’t justify sending a diesel vehicle every 10 minutes when can send another vehicle that is more fuel efficient and reduces the impact on the environment.
Markeaton Park – Are there still spaces available for parking and do you need to seek permission for its use.?
Andrew: There are still permit parking spaces. The agreement for the use has been secured. Permission is granted on a five yearly basis from the Maxell-Clarke family.
Increasing car parking - Why not build a larger car park?
Andrew: unlikely to get permission for additional parking and this will only increase the number of cars travelling to the site at a time when Univeristy want to reduce carbon impact and reduce vehicle use and travel to the site.
Traffic congestion on Kedleston Road – Raised that some residents often get caught in traffic and seems it is the checks being carried out at the security booths.
Andrew: There are 2 lanes that enter the site. One staff permit holders and the other is visitors to the site. Have had discussions and aware of the issue. Looking at options such as quicker barriers. Also zebra crossing is just by the security hut may look to push it further up the site to get a better flow into the site. It was hoped that the Miller Homes money would fund these works but looks as though the University will need to fund the costs.
Miller Homes – obliged to provide a roundabout at Askerfield Avenue and Allestree Lane and obliged to undertake improvements at the University junction but not the responsibility of DCC.