Fewer college car parking slots will be available

Concerns raised at planning meetings have already led to some changes in plans for the new college site in Penland Road.

Reserved matters were discussed by Rother Planning Committee last Thursday, and the final details given approval.

This included a condition that a walk-way to Glyne Ascent be blocked to deter a short-cut to parking in residential areas.

The number of car parking spaces have been reduced to encourage use of public transport.

The college will provide space for 190 cars: 45 less than originally planned.

The reduction of space on site was agreed in accordance with the County Council Green Plan.

Students will be encouraged to use public transport and car-share.

Councillor Jean Hopkinson said: "We have got 1300 students and 165 people that work on site. It is assumed a number of them will be driving, or is it the intention to ban students from driving?

"My constituents are concerned that the parking around the school is already in a difficult enough situation."

Councillor Carl Maynard said Hastings College was an example of limited parking gone wrong. "Hastings College has limited car parking, but the area is a car crime hot-spot."

College principal Paul Ashdown said: "It is a different type of college with a different structure of students. Hastings College serves a lot of adult students on part-time courses, who drive to and from the college for short sessions. We just don't have that turnover of students at Bexhill College.

"The new site will have slightly fewer car parking spaces. But most of the figures talked about at the meeting last Thursday showed a misunderstanding of the college. Although we have 1300 students, that includes numbers for evening classes. We have 1100 day time students, but they are not all in at the same time, and more than half of them are not able to drive.

"We have lots and lots of buses bringing students in every day.

"We have adopted the green travel plan to encourage students and staff to use public transport."

As part of the application, the college had to submit plans for improvements at the troublesome Hastings Road bend: it will become the main valve to and from the college.

"The changes to the junction will make a considerable improvement.

"We are obviously pleased we can now move ahead with the plans." said Mr Ashdown.