Latest news from Loughborough University

3 Jun 2014

Proposals announced following University exits consultation

Loughborough University has announced proposals for the future arrangement of exits on the south side of campus following analysis of comments received during a recent consultation exercise.

The consultation was organised to provide an opportunity for a range of stakeholders to comment on the arrangements the University should implement going forward.  The move followed requests from residents for exits on the south side to be closed because of concerns about the movement and behaviour of students from campus in that area. The University’s view has been that students should have reasonable access to campus on the south side and that completely restricting access to and from campus on the south side would generate displacement footfall to other residential areas across Loughborough that already have substantial student footfall.

Comments were invited from individual residents, resident groups, individual students, student representatives and other stakeholders. They were invited to express their preference for one of five access arrangements.

There were over 220 responses to the consultation. The options put forward and results were:

Option

Additional Information

 

Totals

Ashleigh Drive open and Falkner Eggington closed

All other University pedestrian exits would remain open

12%

Falkner Eggington open and Ashleigh Drive closed

All other University pedestrian exits would remain open

45%

Creation of an alternative access on to Forest Road between the University properties at 203 and 197 Forest Road  

Ashleigh Drive and Falkner Eggington exits would be closed; all other University pedestrian exits would remain open

7%

Creation of an alternative access at the corner of Forest Road and Epinal Way

Ashleigh Drive and Falkner Eggington exits closed; all other University pedestrian exits would remain open.

33%

Ashleigh Drive and Falkner Eggington closed

 

All other University pedestrian exits would remain open but no new exits would be created.

3%

 The result of the consultation is helpful information but there is no consensus. The University now proposes:

  • To create  an alternative access point at the corner of Forest Road and Epinal Way
  • To move to time limited operation of both Ashleigh Drive and Falkner Eggington exits from campus.  The proposal is that both exits are open from 0600 hours to 22.30 hours, seven days a week.

The new arrangements will be implemented for the start of the new academic year.  There will be a review after three months.

Richard Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of the University comments:

“The results reflect the differing views of stakeholders, with students expressing support for an access that is convenient for them and residents seeking an option that sees footfall diverted from residential areas.  With no clear consensus we believe a compromise that balances the needs of the University, student residents and the concerns of other local residents is going to be necessary and we are calling for support with this from all concerned.”

The proposals have been discussed with Charnwood Borough Council and Leicestershire Police who are in agreement with the compromise solution put forward.

Councillor David Snartt, Charnwood Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "We welcome the proposals which I believe complement the recommendations the Borough Council made within the consultation document.

 "We are pleased that we have had the opportunity to discuss with our partners a way forward with a positive conclusion, giving a balanced outcome which will benefit residents, throughout the night time period and students having south side access during the day.

 "Therefore, I am hopeful we can now move forward with a lasting solution to this outstanding issue."

 

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR14/105

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year title in 2008-09 and has been named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Alison Barlow
Senior Public Relations Officer
Loughborough University
T: 01509 228696
E: A.J.Barlow@lboro.ac.uk