Is anyone else sick of the car park entrance being locked?

Feckless Rogue

I've had enough of having to wait outside like a pleb for someone to exit/open the door out of charity. It's a totally amateur setup.

Any suggestions for the best avenue to direct complaints about this?

macrubicon

OP - First up it is not a car park entrance. It is an exit door. It is that way for security reasons due to incidents.

Staff who have an appropriate key can open the door from the car park side but must ensure it is closed.

If you want to complain direct any towards the SU or the Estates department but I very much doubt you will get anywhere.

Feckless Rogue

Thanks for the reply. I'm curious as to what kind of incidents these were and when they took place?

I'm sure there is a perfectly valid reason for the door being designated as exit only, however the current reality is that the vast majority of parking spaces are now miles away from any other door, and literally at the opposite side of the building from the main entrance.

The only other student entrance I am aware of is the one at the back beside the bicycle racks. Last time I checked there wasn't even a footpath between the main car park and this entrance, this on a road which is barely wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time.

Whether the door is designated an exit or not, any time I've been there there has been at least 4x as much traffic going in as going out. This is not down to shenanigans, but simply logistics.

I understand the college has a duty of care to students/staff, but if this is the reason for entrances being as they are they are clearly failing in that regard. The student population (including, I might add, those that are wheelchair-bound) should not have to suffer the consequences of poor planning.

If you want to complain direct any towards the SU or the Estates department but I very much doubt you will get anywhere.

macrubicon

Thanks for the reply. I'm curious as to what kind of incidents these were and when they took place?

Not skipping the detail here but lets leave it with security relating to free and open access.

The only other student entrance I am aware of is the one at the back beside the bicycle racks. Last time I checked there wasn't even a footpath between the main car park and this entrance, this on a road which is barely wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time.

There is also the main entrance. There is and always has been a footpath down either the side of the building to that entrance or the main entrance. With the current works you will note these roads are being widened for this reason.

The student population (including, I might add, those that are wheelchair-bound) should not have to suffer the consequences of poor planning.

There are reserved disabled spaces at area's with easy access to the college.

I'm not saying I disagree or agree with you or the policy's in place - just pointing out the details of what's what and why.

CramCycle

Feckless Rogue wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I'm curious as to what kind of incidents these were and when they took place?

I presume it is an insurance stipulation, its not a big entrance and leaves open alot of HandS issues open if it was a free for all at peak periods. It also acts as a wind tunnel on occasion at times and leaving it open can put unnecessary stress on the door.

I'm sure there is a perfectly valid reason for the door being designated as exit only, however the current reality is that the vast majority of parking spaces are now miles away from any other door, and literally at the opposite side of the building from the main entrance.

About 500feet, possibly less. not the biggest building in the world

The only other student entrance I am aware of is the one at the back beside the bicycle racks. Last time I checked there wasn't even a footpath between the main car park and this entrance, this on a road which is barely wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time.

Use the path to the front door instead?

Whether the door is designated an exit or not, any time I've been there there has been at least 4x as much traffic going in as going out. This is not down to shenanigans, but simply logistics.

Ah, so people don't follow the rules, therefore the rules are wrong, not the people? Also I doubt that there is 4X coming in as going out, maybe in the morning but that is it.

I understand the college has a duty of care to students/staff, but if this is the reason for entrances being as they are they are clearly failing in that regard. The student population (including, I might add, those that are wheelchair-bound) should not have to suffer the consequences of poor planning.

Students availing of the WC spaces can ask estates for an access fob, everyone else can walk around, the only issue with this door is that there is not a open motor for WC users. That is a proper issue for estates.

Feckless Rogue

macrubicon wrote: »

There is also the main entrance. There is and always has been a footpath down either the side of the building to that entrance or the main entrance. With the current works you will note these roads are being widened for this reason.

I must have been mistaken about the path at the back of the college - I haven't seen the path from the road and thought this was motor access only. If they're widening the road then great, this is the first I've heard of it.

There are reserved disabled spaces at area's with easy access to the college.

Not trying to nitpick here with the work going on aren't the only ones currently accessible by car at the north side of the college (e.g. the entrance we're talking about)?

I'm not saying I disagree or agree with you or the policy's in place - just pointing out the details of what's what and why.

That's cool, and I do appreciate you (both) taking the time to reply.

CramCycle wrote: »

Feckless Rogue wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I'm curious as to what kind of incidents these were and when they took place?

I presume it is an insurance stipulation, its not a big entrance and leaves open alot of HandS issues open if it was a free for all at peak periods. It also acts as a wind tunnel on occasion at times and leaving it open can put unnecessary stress on the door.

These are all issues the college should be addressing with the students in mind. A door is a door - if it doesn't work in its current form then a solution should be figured out. My whole point is the setup is impractical and the college should do something about it.

I'm sure there is a perfectly valid reason for the door being designated as exit only, however the current reality is that the vast majority of parking spaces are now miles away from any other door, and literally at the opposite side of the building from the main entrance.

About 500feet, possibly less. not the biggest building in the world

In this image, the areas highlighted in light blue are where I usually park (have to, currently) and where my classes are. I have highlighted in red/orange the alternate routes you are suggesting & also the location of the student entrances. It doesn't take an architect to realise that there should be a direct route in from this car park for students:

The only other student entrance I am aware of is the one at the back beside the bicycle racks. Last time I checked there wasn't even a footpath between the main car park and this entrance, this on a road which is barely wide enough for two cars to pass at the same time.

Use the path to the front door instead?

Why didn't I think of that :rolleyes:

Ah, so people don't follow the rules, therefore the rules are wrong, not the people? Also I doubt that there is 4X coming in as going out, maybe in the morning but that is it.

Well, I'm saying that people aren't following the rules because the rules are wrong, which I guess is a different way of saying the same thing, yes.

I'm a night student, so the traffic I'm seeing is between 5.30/6.15. I'm not surprised if it's the same in the morning though.

Students availing of the WC spaces can ask estates for an access fob, everyone else can walk around, the only issue with this door is that there is not a open motor for WC users. That is a proper issue for estates.

Fair enough, didn't realise this was the case.

The image above speaks volumes IMO - I understand there is a historic reason for the door being the way it is but the college should come up with a better solution.

macrubicon

Can I suggest a little patience until after Easter when the works on site are due to be finished ? The roads and routes at the moment are not great but are the way they are due to the works.

Once they are all done and the new spaces opened up let's see how things work ?

CramCycle

Feckless Rogue wrote: »

These are all issues the college should be addressing with the students in mind. A door is a door - if it doesn't work in its current form then a solution should be figured out. My whole point is the setup is impractical and the college should do something about it.

It is an exit, it works fine in this capacity.

Impractical maybe but it is only 2 minutes extra out of your day (you can go out the exit door). If it a huge inconvenience the ask estates why it is the way it is so at least you know the exact reason.

Well, I'm saying that people aren't following the rules because the rules are wrong, which I guess is a different way of saying the same thing, yes.

People are not following the rules because they don't want to or they are used ot seeing others doing it and think is is OK. Personally I don't think the front door is a huge inconvenience, if you run its less than 20 seconds from the rear door, walking about a minute, hardly a huge inconvenience.

I'm a night student, so the traffic I'm seeing is between 5.30/6.15. I'm not surprised if it's the same in the morning though.

I'd say worse in the morning TBH, always laugh at the queues, they would have made it in the front if they just waked around they are waiting so long sometimes.

The image above speaks volumes IMO - I understand there is a historic reason for the door being the way it is but the college should come up with a better solution.

But there is not a problem, if the door wasn't there or it was only able to be opened from one side like a fire door, very few would complain.

The door is able to be opened for WC users, IMO that is the only time it should be open, the staff fobs are a concession which is not necessary but to late to complain about that.

Late Student

People seem to be getting hung up on the little things and missing the far bigger issue in the college these days. The staple of Sausage, Beans and Chips for 3 euro has taken a dramatic turn for the worse these days..I'm not sure if it's down to cut backs or want but the brand of Beans has been changed and not for the better. i find this change is have a serious effect on student life and these new flavourless beans are not giving the well needed fuel surge to students for the 2nd half of the day.
If anyone seriously wants to be pushing the student union then it should be to get the return of the pre christmas, sweet tasting, baked beans that made the simple 3 euro special the cornerstone of the college.

Feckless Rogue

Late Student wrote: »

People seem to be getting hung up on the little things and missing the far bigger issue in the college these days. The staple of Sausage, Beans and Chips for 3 euro has taken a dramatic turn for the worse these days..I'm not sure if it's down to cut backs or want but the brand of Beans has been changed and not for the better. i find this change is have a serious effect on student life and these new flavourless beans are not giving the well needed fuel surge to students for the 2nd half of the day.
If anyone seriously wants to be pushing the student union then it should be to get the return of the pre christmas, sweet tasting, baked beans that made the simple 3 euro special the cornerstone of the college.

I see what you did there!