A STUDENT is calling for the council to make changes after an estate where students parked has become restricted to residents-only parking.

The Priestley College media student, who wishes to remain anonymous, has spoken out after the changes have seen him and his peers struggling to find a parking spot nearer than a 10-minute walk from the college site.

Travelling from his hometown of Northwich, the 18-year-old said Priestley College does not have enough parking spaces on the grounds to cater for the capacity of students who drive – he estimates around more than 120 pupils.

As such, many like him park on The Heath estate opposite the college site.

“There is limited car parking spaces on the college,” he said. “This morning, I got in at 8.20am and the overflow car park was already full. I am currently parked about a ten-minute walk from the college.”

This comes after residents on The Heath estate made complaints about the number of students parking on the roads on the estate, stating that many blocked driveways and made it impossible for emergency service vehicles like fire engines and ambulances to easily access the neighbourhood.

Residents were often blocked in and unable to leave the estate. The situation had got worse and worse in recent years.

Northwich Guardian:

And owners of the road, Bellway Housing, have now as of Friday (March 15), erected signs on the road to say ‘Private estate, resident only’, with a parking enforcement company also being put in force to issue offending vehicles with a charge.

The pupil, who is in his third year of attending the school, said despite advice from Priestley of using the college bus as a better option of transport, this is not an appealing option for many in his boat.

“My bus journey is one hour and 20 minutes as opposed to a 20-minute drive,” he said.

“There are about 120 students that drive to college and drive to the area and that do not want to travel and wait an hour after college to get the bus back.

“In the overflow and college car park people are blocking others in. The college says the council won’t give permission for more space.”

He added that in a letter issued to the students, the college advised of the recent changes to parking on The Heath estate and added that ‘we are not able to guarantee a space for every student that drives’.

Speaking on how to fix the issue, he said: “I do not think it is a college problem. I think it is the council’s.

“The idea of having everyone getting on a bus, the college buses are always packed and you have to stand for the whole journey.

“It is not a good solution, it is wrong.”

Commenting on the ongoing parking issue at the college, assistant principal Mark Eccleston said: “Our priority at Priestley is our students so we are currently looking to secure them some additional car parking near to college.

“We are restricted from providing more car parking on site so will also continue to promote our free bus services and alternative ways of travelling to college.”

Warrington Borough Council have also been contacted for a response.