During September, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) barriers are due to be installed in the Drill Hall car park on the Medway campus to improve parking enforcement and traffic management. The barrier operational start date is TBC, we will update this post once we have set dates in place.

What you need to know about the new ANPR barrier:

When entering the Drill Hall car park, the ANPR camera will read your vehicle registration number (VRN).

During permit holder hours Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm access to this car park will be if the vehicle is registered with a valid University of Kent virtual parking permit or a permit exemption which has been approved by the University of Kent Transport Team.

Outside of permit holder hours (Monday to Friday 5pm-8am, weekends and bank holidays) the barrier will automatically open for any vehicle.

There will be an intercom at the barrier which will be monitored 24/7 by Campus Security.

Whilst a vehicle may be allowed through the barrier, it is still the responsibility of the driver to ensure that they;

• are parked within a designated parking area at all times.
• have activated the correct vehicle on their permit account, or have the correct permit displayed in their windscreen if they do not have a virtual University of Kent parking permit for our Medway campus car parks, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.

Information for Permit Holders

Virtual parking permit holders

The virtual permit database will feed the VRN of the vehicle that is marked as ‘active’ on each permit account to the ANPR barrier every 30 minutes. Hence why we ask  drivers to update their permit account with the vehicle they are parking at least 30 minutes before arriving on campus, where reasonably possible.

A driver with a valid virtual parking permit with the correct vehicle marked as ‘active’ on the permit account:

• The barrier will automatically open. Please ensure you have updated your active vehicle to the one you are driving at least 30 minutes before arriving on campus. Please see the Virtual Parking Permit FAQs on how to switch your active vehicle.

A driver who has a virtual daily voucher permit:

• Please ensure you purchase your daily voucher at least 30 minutes before arriving on campus to guarantee automatic entry through the ANPR barrier. If you are unable to do this for any reason and the barrier does not lift, press the intercom at the barrier and talk to Campus Security to gain access into the car park.

Event parking/ Business visitor parking

• University of Kent staff expecting business visitors or organising events will need to continue to use the existing Ad Hoc business visitor parking permit request system and to follow the information on the Transport web page regarding event parking

• University of Kent partner organisations please refer to the Visitors to Medway campus information on the transport website, the Transport Team will review your request and advise what parking we are able to offer

Government Blue Badge holders

• University of Kent Staff and Students – please ensure you have completed the online process for a Gov Blue Badge permit.

• If the Government Blue Badge holder is a member of staff or registered student at the University of Greenwich or Canterbury Christ Church University and required regular access to the Drill Hall car park you will be able to apply for a University of Kent Ad Hoc Associate parking permit free of charge, which will allow automatic access through the barrier at all times.