A CONTROVERSIAL parking permit scheme at the University of Wales Trinity St David’s campus in Lampeter will seriously impact on the numbers of cash-strapped students attending lectures.

That is the fear of students who have signed a 1,500-signature online petition in protest.

Under the proposals car drivers will have to pay £160 to leave their car on campus, or £200 if they live on campus.

Announcing the scheme, UWTSD told students and lecturers that the move to reduce car usage on their campuses was part of their drive to sustainability.

PGCE student Emily Davies, who set up the petition, said students and lecturers were notified of the fees just over a week before returning from the summer break.

The university issued a subsequent statement last week insisting parking permit charges would not be introduced in the current academic year. But campaigners fear such a scheme will be brought in as a “trial” next year.

Ms Davies said: “As a PGCE student I will not be attending the university for more than 12/14 weeks of the academic year, so £160 seems excessive, especially given that I would not be guaranteed a space upon arrival.”

UCU branch secretary Jen Cairns told the Cambrian News the move had aroused “great anger” among students, staff and townspeople.

“I was very shocked when I heard,” she said. “Lampeter is tiny and the numbers of students are falling and this is going to effect them even more – there’s just no sense in it at all.

“This also comes at a time when police in Lampeter are clamping down on illegal parking.”

See the full story in this week’s south edition