Students lose parking for new sixth form build

Hopwood Hall College students will lose 280 free parking spaces at its town centre campus from next week as work begins on the new Rochdale Sixth Form College, which will open in September 2010.

The College's main car park closes next Monday (19 January). From next Monday there will be 35 spaces available on a 'first-come, first-served basis' but there will be no spaces available after August. 

Some students are angry at the closure and have launched a petition, saying that they will have to pay substantial amounts daily to park at pay and display car parks in the town centre, but others believe that the closure of the car park will encourage the use of public transport.
 
The college's Assistant Director for Corporate Services, Saf Arfan, said: "We have made this decision in order to provide contractors beginning work on the Rochdale Sixth Form College with an essential access route onto site and ensure the car park complies fully with health and safety regulations.

"We are aware that a group of students studying at the Rochdale campus have voiced their concerns about this situation in the form of a petition. We understand and are sympathetic to these concerns, however in order to facilitate the building works we are asking for their co-operation and also that of our staff, in making alternative travel or parking arrangements when coming to and from college.

"Car parking in Rochdale town centre comes at a premium and other than the 35 spaces on campus, we are unfortunately unable to provide alternative free car parking off-campus for students. Hopwood Hall College is well serviced by major bus routes via Rochdale Bus Station which many students and staff who do not drive make full use of.

"We are currently looking at ways to support learners who carry heavy equipment to and from college and will facilitate a secure pick-up and drop-off service as a matter of priority. Full details about this will be communicated to students via their tutors."

The car park will not be replaced as part of the new sixth form build.