Until recently, Postgraduate students have had access to the Lynchgate car park on campus. However, testimony received over the past few weeks reports that this access was suddenly revoked without prior consultation.
Since this change was introduced, many students have reported that the Lynchgate car park is rarely full, and that it is convenient for Postgraduates to use as other car parks fill up quickly in the mornings. We understand that students may be worried that they have been issued parking tickets for using the Lynchgate facilities before realising their access had been revoked.
SU Postgraduate Officer EMILY DUNFORD has been in frequent contact with the University since this issue arose. Unfortunately, owing to a tax complication, access to Lynchgate will remain staff-only. However, the University will be promoting Lynchgate as a priority parking option across its channels to staff, in order to free up spaces elsewhere for other members of the University community.
Many of the students requiring access to this car-park - particularly Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) - work in the office or lab all day as teachers, researchers and demonstrators. It remains deeply frustrating that, despite this, Postgraduate student teachers are still not recognised as (or, indeed, have the same rights as) ‘staff’.
Although unfortunately we are unable to secure a change in policy, we have negotiated that all parking tickets incorrectly issued to PG permit holders for parking in Lynchgate prior to 1st October will be revoked, or refunded if they have already been paid.
All PGR parking permits should now be bought at the “Low” rate. If any have been mistakenly sold as “Discounted”, get in touch with Emily Dunford, who is also collecting your testimony of parking on campus to feed back to the University: emily.dunford@warwicksu.com.