Belfast university students missing lectures with lack of parking

Students hit out at parking in south Belfast Some Belfast students have said their studies are being hampered by a lack of parking around Queen's University.

Students told BBC News NI they have missed lectures and are concerned about walking through the city in the dark due to the lack of parking.

A Queen's University spokesperson said current traffic congestion across the city is "a result of infrastructure issues outside of the control or remit of Queen's".

The university said it is committed to reducing emissions and strongly encourages students to use public transport.

"Our staff and students are also encouraged to use active forms of sustainable travel and we are actively engaging with the Department for Infrastructure and Belfast City Council," it added.

A spokesperson for the DFI said parking is always in demand in Stranmillis and the Holyland during term time but added that "inconsiderate or poor parking behaviour" further reduces the limited availability.

The department has recently increased enforcement in these areas and said parking compliance was improving.

The department added that there must be a "a conscious choice to move away from using cars to more sustainable methods" for our everyday journeys.

Rebecca Bennett is a PHD student at Queen's University Belfast. She told BBC News NI that parking is a huge issue for students.

"It's next to impossible to get parked in the morning, you have to show up at seven o'clock. And what are you supposed to do at seven o'clock in the morning?"

Part of the problem, Ms Bennett believes, is that Belfast is "such a densely populated city", with people travelling from across Northern Ireland.

'You think twice about walking alone at night' Due to the parking issues Ms Bennett said she walks to and from university but she worries about that.

She said she has walked home and it "was a bit scary, especially walking through Botanic".

"When you hear those news reports about the increased femicide rate in Northern Ireland, it's a huge issue. And it just makes you think twice about walking alone at night."

Jamie Dowie, a Masters student at Queen's University Belfast said he had missed or been late to lectures due to parking issues.

"I have walked into lectures an hour late," he said.

"If you have an exam, you're up maybe two or three hours beforehand so you can get parked. You lose out on sleep".

Mr Dowie also noted that staff face similar issues in locating space to park.

The Mechanical Engineering student did his placement at Queen's, and found that, even as a member of staff, he struggled to find anywhere to park.

His only option was to join a waiting list, the wait time for which was two years.

According to Mr Dowie, the demand for parking spaces far outstrips supply. "There are no places to park", he said. "It's all side streets, there's no actual proper parking facilities".

The lack of "proper" parking facilities is also a point of concern for Mr Dowie even once parked, as well as worries about the damage that might befall his car.

'It's a nightmare to get parked' For Caitlin Hilton, the lack of parking spaces around the university detrimentally effects her sleep.

The Politics and International Relations student said it was "very hard" to find anywhere to park, meaning she has to get up a lot earlier than she would otherwise.

This, says Ms Hilton, negatively effects her ability to learn and study.

Oisín McCarron, meanwhile, said that their quality of life while at university is worsened by a lack of parking availability.

"It's very difficult to get parked anywhere, to the point where people are just parking on the footpath. I can't drive during the week because there's no parking where I live."

Final year Law students Sophie and Lauren share Oisín's concerns.

"It's a nightmare to get parked", said Sophie.

Lauren also highlighted the financial cost involved with trying to park near the university.

"There was one time I came to park close to Queen's", says Lauren, "and the only place I could get was Botanic, where you had to pay. It was a significant amount of money for just an hour's parking".

Ronan Campbell, a Law and Politics student from Omagh, highlighted the struggle students from rural communities face commuting to their student accommodation.

"Getting parked is the hardest part because its chock-a-block. You come up on a Sunday evening and its rammed and if you move your car during the week, you're going to struggle."

For Siofra Kearney, meanwhile, driving to university is no longer an option due to the lack of parking spaces.

"I get the bus up from Newry. It's an hour and twenty minute journey, which is longer than it would take me to drive. All because I'm unable to get my car parked or move reliably around the city.

"It's not a very accessible city for students."

The department has said there are several car parks and park and ride sites across the city which drivers are encouraged to avail of.