A Police and Community Together meeting held at the University of Cumbria in Bowerham Road on Tuesday night saw residents demanding that something be done about students and teachers parking outside their homes.

Some residents, especially in Golgotha Road and Coulston Road, said they were finding it impossible to get a parking space on their own street, let alone outside their home.

And Peter Nixon, the university's director of operations and corporate services at the university, promised to investigate the possible use of the Lancaster Auction Mart car park off Golgotha Road by students and lecturers.

He said: "We can't make any promises but before the next meeting, we will investigate the possibility of using the auction mart car park and discuss commercial terms with the owners."

Peter Lea, who owns Lea's Grocery in Coulston Road said: "We seem to be saying the same things over and over again and getting nowhere.

"The auction mart car park is ideal. There's a path that leads down from there, which would just need tidying up, but would provide quick access to the university, and an extra 200-250 car parking spaces."

The university has also suggested a residents only parking scheme could be implemented in the area, but the idea has been rejected by local people.

One member of the public said at the meeting: "Why should we pay to park outside our own homes? We'd be paying for it, but it still wouldn't necessarily mean we'd have a space, and any visitors we had would have to pay too."

University bosses have appointed a travel coordinator who will start in November, and will have the responsibility of producing a travel plan for the city council.

They have also offered some residents the chance to park for free in its 480-space car park off Coulston Road between 5pm and 8am.


*What do you think of the plan to use the Lancaster Auction Mart car park? Vote on our website lancasterguardian.co.uk