Monthly Archives: December 2017

Planning your journey- adverse weather

Remember weather can change at any time, be prepared for this before you leave. Please ensure you are familiar with the University’s Snow and Ice Policy to understand what to do during adverse weather. Learn more about gritting and snow clearing on campus.

Driving
Ensure that you and your vehicle are prepared for driving in adverse weather conditions. Read some top tips to prepare for driving during the winter and don’t forget to plan your journey before you leave so you are aware of any disruptions.

Public transport, cycling and walking

  • Plan your journey, check if there are problems on public transport or local roads
  • Delay your journey, if possible, to allow temperatures to rise and ice or snow to melt
  • Avoid footways in the shade. It takes longer for ice or snow to melt in the shade
  • Always wear appropriate footwear and reflective/bright clothing
  • Ensure that you have a torch or lights so motorists and others can see you when walking or cycling

Plan your journey and be prepared for times of adverse weather.

Winter vacation parking and road disruptions

20- 22 December 2017- Giles Lane traffic control

We have been informed by Kent County Council that there will be two way traffic control on Giles Lane outside the Colyer Fergusson building for works to be completed by South Eastern Power Networks.

Christmas road closures (Canterbury and Medway campuses)

To preserve the private road status of Park Wood Road, University Road, Darwin Road and Library Road, these roads will be closed from 8.00 Monday 25 December until 8.00 Tuesday 26 December.

Similarly, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust are closing Pembroke Gate North Road from 22.00 Sunday 24 December to 22.00 Monday 25 December.

General parking during the winter vacation

You may park within a marked bay without displaying a permit during the University shut down (midday 21 December 2017 to 2 January 2018) as the Transport Team will be unavailable to provide parking permits.

Campus Shuttle last day running of term

The Campus Shuttle is a free coach service between Medway and Canterbury campuses which runs during term-time only. The last day the shuttle will be running is Friday 15 December 2017.

The shuttle will start running again from 15 January 2018, which is the first day of term.

You will be able to book a seat a week or so before this date.

For more information please visit www.kent.ac.uk/campus-shuttle

Understanding snow clearing

Snow ploughs only work effectively when snow is more than 5cm (2inches) deep. If snow fall reaches this level, Grounds Maintenance will use a combination of snow ploughs and other methods to clear the snow as snow ploughs cannot go over road humps or similar traffic calming measures.

Grit does not melt snow and therefore grit cannot be applied on top of deep snow. Refer to understanding gritting for more information on how gritting works.

Similar to how local authorities manage snow clearance, the Estates department will aim to clear all University of Kent roads and main footpaths before starting on other areas across the campuses. Please refer to the University’s Snow and Ice Policy for more information.

Understanding gritting

Timing is everything with gritting. If you go too early, you waste the grit, because it lands on a dry road and is blown away by the displaced air as vehicles drive past. If it is raining heavily then it just washes away. Ideally the grit goes down on a damp surface and starts to stick, but if you are too late the surface is already frozen and the salt has to work harder to be effective but it will prevent big sheets of ice forming.

The salt is hygroscopic which means that it attracts moisture from the air and it only becomes activated when it is ‘trafficked’. When the grit is driven over the salt grinds down and mixes with the moisture it attracts and becomes the ideal brine, a salty water, which is when it is most effective.

Similar to how local authorities manage gritting, the Estates department will grit all University of Kent roads and main footpaths before starting on other areas across the campuses. For more information see the University’s Snow and Ice Policy

Learn more about snow clearing.

Canterbury car park disruptions

Applicant Days (Giles Lane)

Applicant days are essential recruitment events for the University. The number of reserved parking bays within Giles Lane car park for visitors to these events is as follows, as requested by Enrolment Management Services:

  • Wednesday 6 December- 20 bays
  • Thursday 7 December- 30 bays
  • Saturday 9 December- 30 bays
  • Thursday 14 December- 30 bays

Gulbenkian events (Giles Lane)

To assist with school visits to performances of The Little Match Girl, a number of bays will be reserved in Giles Lane car park, as requested by the Gulbenkian:

  • Thursday 7- Friday 8 December- 15 bays
  • Wednesday 13- Friday 15 December- 8 bays

Engineering recruitment workshop (Pavilion car park)

  • Tuesday 12- Wednesday 13 December- 24 bays will be reserved in the Pavilion car park for an engineering workshop recruitment day, as requested by the School of Engineering and Digital Arts.

Please refer to our transport event calendar in between newsletters to keep up to date.

Stagecoach winter vacation timetable

Buses serving the University of Kent will run a winter vacation timetable from 17 December 2017 to 13 January 2018.

Uni1 – special timetable.

Uni2 – special timetable between 18 December and 31 December only (no Uni2 buses will run between 1 January and 13 January).

Route 4 – normal timetable except 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.

Triangle – normal timetable except 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.

Christmas Day – no buses.

Boxing Day – no buses.

New Year’s Day – no buses

You can pick up a physical copy of the winter vacation timetable from Security and Transport Centre, reception areas on campus or Canterbury bus station. You can also view the winter vacation timetable at Keynes and Darwin bus stops.

Follow @StagecoachSE on Twitter for regular service updates, or view live bus times on the Stagecoach app for iPhone and android.

Last few days of Travel Plan Survey- don’t miss out

The staff and student Travel Plan Survey 2017 closes on Friday 8 December 2017.

Don’t miss the chance to have your say and potentially win £100 cash card to use at the catering outlets on campus, or one of 100 hot drinks vouchers. Just enter your University of Kent email address at the end of the survey to enter the prize draw.

Let us know how we can improve travel to, from and around our campuses. The data from the survey helps shape various reports including the University Travel Plans and the Movement and Transport Strategy which feeds into the Canterbury campus 50-year Masterplan.

This is your opportunity to let the Estates Department know how we can improve travel to, from and around our campuses. Have your say on buses, cycling, parking, the Campus Shuttle and more.

The survey takes between 5-10 minutes to complete. There is also a “finish later” option if you need to return to complete the survey.