University Calendar 2009/10
Section IV : General Regulations
Vehicles and Bicycles



PREFACE
CONTENTS
SEMESTERS
SECTION I
SECTION II
SECTION III
SECTION IV
SECTION V
SECTION VI
SECTION VII
SECTION VIII
SECTION IX
 
ARCHIVE 2003/4
ARCHIVE 2004/5
ARCHIVE 2005/6
ARCHIVE 2006/7
ARCHIVE 2007/8
ARCHIVE 2008/9
REGULATIONS FOR THE REGISTRATION AND PARKING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

The University is an independent institution incorporated under Royal Charter and is empowered under that Charter to make Regulations and to do all such acts and things as may be requisite to further the objects of the University as a place of education and learning. The University's premises are inadequate to provide for all vehicles which staff, students and visitors might wish to bring to the University and the University Council has approved the following Regulations in order to ensure orderly and in so far as it may be possible equitable use of vehicles allowed under licence whether real or implied to enter the University's premises.

Definitions

The following terms shall have the meanings specified:

'Academic Sites'
  means any Premises owned or controlled by the University which is not Halls of Residence or Sports Grounds.
'Car Parking Manager'
  means the authorised representative of the University with responsibility for managing car parking facilities on University Premises.
'Contractor'
  means any person or firm that supplies materials, labour or a service to the University and includes any firm, company or person sub-contracted to do so.
'Disabled Person'
  any holder of a ‘Blue Badge’ (government approved parking badge for disabled persons) or a person whose permit has been stamped as ‘disabled’ for appropriate medical reasons by a member of Staff duly authorised by the University.
'Halls of Residence'
  means University premises (other than private houses) provided for the accommodation of students and staff whether or not board is also provided (excluding Shaftesbury Avenue residence in Southampton and Erasmus Park residence in Winchester).
'Premises'
  means any land or buildings in University ownership or under the control of the University including land or buildings occupied by private individuals or companies whether as tenants or licensees, including open space, car parks, roads, footpaths or covered by buildings of any kind.
'Motor Vehicle'
  means a mechanically or electrically propelled vehicle with two or more wheels but not a pedal
cycle unless an engine of any kind has been fitted thereto.
'Permit'
  means a document issued by the University Estates and Facilities Department for the authorised
parking of a motor vehicle.
'Sports Grounds'
  means those Premises at Wide Lane and at the Boat Hard at Monks Brook which are in University
ownership or control.
'Staff'
  means any or all employees of the University of Southampton who are not Students.
'Students'
  means any or all Students registered for courses of study with the University whether on a fulltime
or part-time basis.
'Visitor'
  means anyone other than Staff or Students with a bona fide reason for visiting the University but not any contractor or employee of a company based on the University's Academic Sites or Halls of Residence where the employee or company has agreed to abide by these Regulations. Without affecting the generality of the foregoing but for the avoidance of doubt "Visitor" includes any member of the University as defined in Statutes Section 2 other than Staff and Students and other persons receiving remuneration from the University.

1. Background

All vehicles and bicycles are brought onto University sites at the owner's risk and the University undertakes
no responsibility or liability for their safety and security. These Regulations apply to Staff, Students, Contractors and Visitors. These Regulations apply to all Academic Sites or Halls of Residences. Any infringement of these Regulations may lead to disciplinary or other steps being taken by the University against any member of Staff or Student concerned. Visitors contravening the regulations shall if possible be warned and have their attention drawn to these Regulations. The Regulations form part of the application for the issue of a parking permit and applicants are required to undertake that they will abide by and observe these Regulations.

2. General

All users of vehicles and bicycles on University sites must comply with traffic signs and notices, whether permanent or temporary and comply with instructions given by Staff. Continuous parking of vehicles between 00.00 hours and 06.00 hours on academic sites is not allowed unless the Car Parking Manager has given express permission. Motor Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas and in clearly marked parking spaces on University sites. Each vehicle must not occupy more than one parking space unless the Car Parking Manager has given approval. Only Disabled drivers, or drivers with disabled passengers, are allowed to park vehicles in spaces reserved and marked for the use of disabled persons.

3. Parking Permits

All Motor Vehicles on University Academic Sites must display a valid parking Permit on the front windscreen. At Academic Sites this is from 0800 hours unless parking in the Pay and Display or the Visitors' Car Park. Parking on Academic Sites without a valid Academic campus parking Permit is permitted, however, at weekends and from 17.00 hours (16.00 hours at Avenue Campus) to 00.00 hours on Monday to Friday.

A University parking permit will be invalidated if the vehicle is not displaying a current vehicle tax disc. The issue of a parking permit does not guarantee a parking space at University Premises. No permit will be issued to anyone who has an outstanding fine. Staff and Students living up to 2 miles from their main University base (as calculated by the applicable University’s online car parking system accessible on SUSSED) are not eligible for a car parking permit unless they can demonstrate a genuine need for one. The decision to grant a permit to those Staff and Students living within a 2 mile zone resides with the Car Parking Manager. All information provided to Estates and Facilities by Staff and Students on their relevant application forms must be true and accurate. Permit holders must immediately inform Estates and Facilities of any changes in their details such as car registration number and address via the SUSSED portal from the University’s website. It is prohibited to alter, tamper, duplicate or forge a Permit in any way. It is also
prohibited to transfer a University parking Permit to another vehicle which is not owned or used by the permit holder.

Holders of a University parking Permit are not allowed to park in spaces reserved and marked for the use of official vehicles, designated office holders, visitors, taxis or spaces reserved by bollards or cones. Only Permit holders who have a permit overstamped 'Gower' are allowed to park in the Gower Car Park to the north of Salisbury Road and in the overspill area which is located in that part of the Upper Nuffield Car Park which is immediately adjacent to the Nightingale Building. Permits must be returned to Estates and Facilities if holders cease working or studying at the University or if the permits are no longer required. The University reserves the right to refuse permit holders access to spaces in car parks from time to time, in order to accommodate bona fide visitors and special events. Students may not park vehicles at Highfield, Boldrewood, Avenue or Winchester School of Art without a valid Permit except when a special case has been approved or if the Student is a Disabled Person. Students in the first year of an undergraduate programme will not be permitted to park at Halls of Residence unless approved by the Car Parking Manager if
exceptional circumstances apply.

4. Car Share Permits

Members of Staff may opt to share Permits but only one car per Permit may be parked on Campus at Academic Sites and Halls of Residence at any one time. The principal applicant is responsible for payment of the fee.

5. Rules for Motor Cycles

Two-wheeled vehicles do not require parking permits but must be parked only in parking areas designated for such vehicles.

6. Visitors

Visitors to Highfield may use the Pay and Display car park or the Visitors' Car Park, if their host School or Department has pre-booked a space. It is the host's responsibility to apprise the visitor beforehand of the University's parking arrangements and regulations. Otherwise, visitors to all Academic Sites may be provided with a one-day only visitor's permit, which should be hung from the rear view mirror with the appropriate date scratched off when the vehicle is properly parked on Academic Sites. No visitor has a legal right to park on University Academic Sites and must not do so if appropriate provision has not been made. Visitors to Halls of Residence must display an appropriate permit which is available from the Unilink Office or Halls of Residence Receptions.

7. Contractors

In order to park at the University a contractor must display a valid parking Permit, obtained from the
University’s Estates and Facilities department.

8. Enforcement of the Car Parking Regulations

The Transport Team and Security Services and Campus Services are responsible for enforcing the parking
regulations under the direction of the Director of Estates & Facilities.

9. Parking Offences

Contravention of the regulations will occur in the following situations:
  • Failure to display a current car parking permit
  • Causing an unnecessary obstruction
  • Parking on double yellow lines or in a reserved or restricted area
  • Parking in a disabled bay without an appropriate permit
  • Parking in an access route
  • Parking overnight on academic sites without permission from the Campus Parking Manager
  • Parking in an unmarked area of a designated car park
  • Failure to conform to traffic signs and notices
  • Failure to conform to pay and display notices
  • Failure to follow parking instructions from Car Park Attendants and Security Officers
  • Failure to Park in or wholly within a marked bay
10. Penalties

Persons who breach these Regulations may be fined a sum of £25, or £50 for a serious offence. Fines must be paid within twenty working days from the date of the fine being issued by the Car Parking Manager. A discount of £10, however, is given on fines paid within ten working days of the fine being issued. Holders of parking permits who park vehicles in spaces reserved and marked for the use of disabled persons may have their permits summarily withdrawn at the discretion of the Director of Estates and Facilities. In such circumstances, a pro-rata reimbursement of the charge made for the permit may be considered by the University. Wheel clamps and/or adhesive notices may be affixed to any vehicle parked in disregard of the Regulations and a charge will be made for removal of any wheelclamps as advertised on the contractor's signage.

The University reserves the right to have removed any Motor Vehicle parked on University Premises which is in contravention of the Regulations. The University has the right to recover from any person who breaches these Regulations legal or administrative costs incurred by the University in addition to any fine imposed under the Regulations. Nothing in the Regulations shall in any way inhibit or restrict the University’s other legal remedies against persons who breach these Regulations.

11. Appeals Procedure

The grounds for a penalty fine will be clearly stated on a ticket attached to the relevant vehicle. Appeals may be made on the basis that the relevant grounds stated on the penalty fine can be demonstrated to be materially incorrect or inaccurate or if exceptional circumstances were prevailing at the time of the offence. Appeals must be made within ten working days after the issue of the ticket to the Car Parking Manager who will consider appeals against fines.

The Car Parking Manager has the power to waive the fine, reduce the level of a fine, or confirm a fine. If the fine is confirmed, it must be paid within twenty days of receiving confirmation of the fine. In the event that the appellant is dissatisfied with the Car Parking Manager's findings, a further appeal may be made to the University Transport Operations Manager. If the fine is confirmed, it must be paid within twenty days of receiving confirmation of the fine.

12. Failure to Pay a Fine

In the event of a member of Staff breaching these Regulations and failing to pay a fine properly imposed or to reimburse the University's expenses within the prescribed period, that sum or sums will be deducted from that person’s salary.

In the event of a Student breaching these Regulations and failing to pay a fine properly imposed or to reimburse the University's expenses, then the University will treat the sums or sums involved as any other debt to the University thereby preventing the Student obtaining any University qualification whatsoever until such time as the debt is discharged in accordance with the provisions of Ordinances. Any Contractor with outstanding fees for fines incurred pursuant to these Regulations will be invoiced and or may have the outstanding fees offset against payments otherwise due by the University to the Contractor.


USE AND PARKING OF BICYCLES

(Applicable both to students and to staff who are hereby notified that all bicycles parked on University land are parked there at their owners' risk.)
  1. Cyclists are required to observe and to comply with the regulations concerning the movement of traffic on the University sites, including those relating to the one-way system on the Highfield Site.

  2. Cycling on footpaths and grassed areas on the University sites is prohibited.

  3. Bicycles do not require parking permits.

  4. Whenever possible, bicycles should be parked in designated areas where clips, stands or other facilities are provided. Under no circumstances may bicycles be taken into buildings or parked where they are liable to cause obstruction, e.g. near ramps for use by disabled people or at entrances to buildings.

  5. Bicycles which are found in buildings or parked where they are liable to cause obstruction may be removed or impounded. Security chains and other devices will be cut if necessary. A charge shall be made for the recovery of an impounded bicycle. The maximum charge shall be authorised by the University Executive Group from time to time.

  6. Cases of non-compliance with the above regulations may result in offences being referred to the Registrar and Chief Operating Officer who will take appropriate action.


Submitted by the Secretariat
Last reviewed: 30-Sep-2009
© University of Southampton