University must act to provide parking

DEAR Editor, While sympathising with two recent correspondents who highlighted the difficulties of parking for residents of Selly Park, may I point out that the problem is even more acute in adjacent Bournbrook.

Here the greater density of housing results in a much bigger floating student population.

In Selly Park, while many residences include a private garage, this is rarely the case in Bournbrook. Here, permanent, often elderly, residents typically have to park their cars up to a quarter of a mile from their homes, arranging for delivery of heavy goods in term-time can become an almost impossible task, and milk is delivered at 3am.

The recent and expanding imposition of a 20 mph speed limit has little or no relevance. It is not observed or policed. In fact, when driving along a narrow road with cars parked on both sides, there is an understandable incentive to accelerate before being confronted by an oncoming vehicle, a situation which requires one driver to go into protracted reverse, and if, meanwhile, cars are arriving in the rear, confusion and frayed tempers frequently result.

Action might be expected from the council, with provision of on-road parking for permanent residents, who could apply for permits.

The university could also assume some responsibility, by providing more on-campus student parking, promoting the use of bicycles, and discouraging students from bringing their cars to an area where public transport is cheap and plentiful.

Clearly, as the situation approaches crisis level, the urgency of the problem should be