CHARGING university staff to pay to park on campus is “morally wrong”, town councillors have been told.

Members are now seeking talks with the University of Wales Trinity St Davids amid fears that parking charges at the Lampeter campus would add to traffic congestion in the town centre.

“Morally it’s totally wrong to charge staff to park in their place of work,” Cllr David Smith told colleagues. “The parking situation in town is not brilliant at the moment and it’s going to get worse.”

Fears had previously been expressed that a parking permit scheme at the university would seriously impact on the numbers of students attending lectures.

An online petition against the proposed scheme quickly drew 1,500 signatures.

Town mayor Cllr Hag Harris also questioned the university’s claim that the introduction of parking fees were part of a drive towards sustainability.

“What’s sustainable about making people drive around town?” he asked.

“I accept they reserve the right to control their own campus, but this will displace people out around the town.”

In a statement, the university confirmed it was reviewing its existing parking management arrangements across its campuses.

See this week’s South Ceredigion edition for the full story, in shops and online now