In the light of the second lockdown and uncertainties caused by the pandemic, the suspension of staff parking permit charges introduced in March has been extended until Easter 2021. This arrangement will be reassessed during the second semester.
What does this mean for me?
- If you have a permit that shows an expiry of 31 December 2020 this will not be replaced and will be deemed as valid until Easter 2021.
- If you need to park on campus and do not have a current permit you will need to apply for one – but there will be no charge.
Travelling to campus more sustainably
Longer-term, and post-COVID, it is clear we will need to plan for a shift to less private car use and reduced parking on our campuses, for a number of reasons. This will be in line with our Sustainability Strategy and Travel Plan, as well as Southampton City and Winchester Councils’ long-term Transport and Sustainability Strategies, which will see a move away from private car travel to greater use of public transport and alternative travel options. We also need to consider the implications post-COVID of any potential longer-term changes in the balance between campus working and working from home.
This will mean fresh thinking around private and business travel and the use of public transport as a city, as well as a university, and will involve wide consultation before any decisions are finalised.
How can I find a more sustainable way of travelling to campus?
Buses
Unilink are still running regular services between sites. Their website outlines the measures they are taking to provide effective social distancing on buses.
Discounted bus tickets for Uni-link services are available to all University staff and students.
Cycling
Southampton has an extensive cycle network, made up of off-road routes and quiet roads. Significant improvements have been made to this network over the summer, with details available on the council’s website.
Secure cycle shed access is available without charge across all sites for staff who prefer to cycle. Please email [email protected] for access.
The University provides fortnightly Bike Dr visits where you can get your bike checked and tuned for free. These visits are taking place during the pandemic with social distance measures in place.
Walking
Walking between campuses is often the quickest (and most direct) way to travel. The following link provides details of approximate walking times between campuses in Southampton University of Southampton ‘By Foot’ map (PDF).
For full details about all methods of travel to our campuses, please visit our Transport webpages.
At the moment, we are still operating on the basis that, wherever possible, colleagues will continue to work from home and must have received the appropriate permissions to come to campuses.
