Tag Archives: parking update

Gritting

How gritting works

The University of Kent’s Landscape Management team are always up early and working hard to keep the campus safe and serviceable for all. During icy weather, they grit the campus roads and footpaths to reduce the risk of accidents to staff, students, and visitors.

What many people do not realise is, there is a fine art to gritting. Timing is everything. 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. Further information on the prioritised primary routes can be found on Goggle Maps.

For more information see the University’s Snow and Ice Policy.

wheel stop

Installation of wheel stops to Sports Centre Road

It had been noticed that the cars parking in Sports Centre Road were sometimes overhanging the footpath, restricting its width, especially where the path narrows around the tree outside of the Jennison building.

To try to help prevent this wheel stops made from 100% recycled rubber have been installed in 4 of the parking bays nearest to the tree.

If the wheel stops prove successful in keeping the footpath clear, especially for wheelchair users, we would like to extend the installation to the remaining bays on the Jennison side of the road.

We would be grateful to receive any feedback on this trial. Any comments can be sent to s.thomson@kent.ac.uk

Gritting

How gritting works

The University of Kent’s Landscape Management team are always up early and working hard to keep the campus safe and serviceable for all. During icy weather, they grit the campus roads and footpaths to reduce the risk of accidents to staff, students, and visitors.

What many people do not realise is, there is a fine art to gritting. Timing is everything. 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.

Campus car parks and roads updates (7 January 2020 to 22 January 2020)

The Transport Team want to make finding a place to park on campus as efficient as possible. To do this, we endeavour to keep staff and students updated on any known car park changes within this newsletter.

At all other times, you can visit our Traffic Management Events Calendar and our Twitter page (@unikent_travel), which are updated regularly.

This section of the newsletter also includes ‘Other Traffic Management News’, to highlight any information that may be of importance to drivers.

Car Parking Changes:

Canterbury Campus

Start Date End Date Location Number of Bays Reason Requested By
07/01/20 09/01/20 Rutherford Car Park 70 KMMS Interviews KMMS
10/01/20 10/01/20 Sibson Car Park 21 Kent Business Summit Kent Business School
Chipperfield Car Park 39
Oaks Car Park Closed
Pavilion Car Park 50
16/01/20 16/01/20 Giles Lane behind Woolf 30 Applicant Day Enrolment Management Service
22/01/20 24/01/20 Central Visitors Pay and Display 30 Theatre Performance Gulbenkian
23/01/20 23/01/20 Giles Lane behind Woolf 30 Applicant Day Enrolment Management Service
25/01/20 25/01/20 Sibson Car Park 20 Applicant Day Enrolment Management Service

Medway Campus

There are currently no known car park disruptions at the Medway campus.

 

Other Traffic Management News

Park Wood Car Parks:

Please note that on Friday 10 January 2020, 300 extra cars will be on campus during the Kent Business Summit. These cars will only have parking permits for the Park Wood car parks. Therefore, parking in Park Wood may be busier than usual. Please see our interactive parking map for alternative parking locations.

Campus Car Parks and Road Updates (26 November – 10 December)

The Transport Team want to make finding a place to park on campus as efficient as possible. To do this, we endeavour to keep staff and students updated on any known car park changes within this newsletter.

At all other times, you can visit our Traffic Management Events Calendar and our Twitter page (@unikent_travel), which are updated regularly.

This section of the newsletter also includes ‘Other Traffic Management News’, to highlight any information that may be of importance to drivers.

Car Parking Changes:

Canterbury Campus

Start Date

End Date Location Number of Bays Reason Requested By

 Monday 13 May 2019

Tuesday 31 December 2019 Pavilion Car Park 9 bays reserved To replace the Tennis Courts

Estates on behalf of Hospitality

Monday 18 November 2019

Sunday 1st December Estates Car Park 12 bays Foul drainage works Estates

Monday 25 November 2019

Monday 25 November 2019 Pavilion Car Park Whole car park closure To assist with large delivery Estates on behalf of Hospitality

Thursday 28 November 2019

Thursday 28 November 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 30 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office

Wednesday 4 December 2019 Wednesday 4 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 20 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office

Thursday 5 December 2019

Thursday 5 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 30 bays reserved Applicant Day Recruitment and Admissions Office
Saturday 7 December 2019 Saturday 7 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park 50 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office

Saturday 7 December 2019 Saturday 7 December 2019 Sibson Car Park 20 bays reserved Applicant Day

Recruitment and Admissions Office

Monday 9 December 2019 Monday 9 December 2019 Giles Lane Car Park (Behind Woolf) 40 bays reserved Topping Out Ceremony

Kent & Medway Medical School

Medway Campus

There are currently no known car park disruptions at the Medway campus.

Other Traffic Management News

The University Landscape & Grounds Management team have already been out gritting the campus roads and car parks during last week’s frost, and will continue to do so throughout the winter months. Despite their best efforts, car parks, paths, and roads may still be slippery around campus, so please take care when commuting.

 

 

Campus car parks and road updates (15-29 November)

The Transport Team want to make finding a place to park on campus as efficient as possible. To do this, we endeavour to keep staff and students updated on any known car park changes within this newsletter.

At all other times, you can visit our Traffic Management Events Calendar and our Twitter page (@unikent_travel), which are updated regularly.

This section of the newsletter also includes ‘Other Traffic Management News’, to highlight any information that may be of importance to drivers.

Car Parking Changes:

Canterbury Campus

Start Date

End Date Location Number of Bays Reason Requested By

 13 May 2019

31 December 2019 Pavilion car park 9 To replace the Tennis Courts Estates on behalf of Hospitality
18 November 2019 22 November 2019 Estates car park 12 Foul drainage work

Estates

Medway Campus

There are currently no known car park disruptions at the Medway campus.

Other Traffic Management News

Canterbury Campus

One of the main questions we get asked about the Canterbury campus is ‘where can I park?’ To help answer this, we have our interactive parking map. The map can be used to find out which car parks your permit entitles you to use during permit enforcement hours (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm), how many spaces are available, and where visitors can park.

Medway Campus

Drill Hall Car Park

To make sure that there are enough spaces in the Drill Hall car park for everyone who wishes to use it, we ask that you please park considerately and do not leave large gaps between vehicles. We are unable to paint bay markings or lines within this car park because it is part of a heritage site. The road and parking areas are distinguished by planters and circular discs in the ground. There are also maps and signs within the car park to help identify the correct places to park.

 

Liftshare Week: your chance to win £150!

Liftshare week takes place nationwide each October to celebrate the social, financial and environmental benefits of car-sharing. This year, the dates are 7th-13th October, and here at the University of Kent we want to encourage everyone to give Liftshare a go!

To celebrate, anyone that forms a Liftshare team between 30th September and 20th October 2019 will be entered into a prize draw to win a Red Letter day up to the value of £150.

If you haven’t yet joined Liftshare you can do so now absolutely free! Visit https://liftshare.com/uk/community/unishare and follow the instructions to register and add your journey details. Then search for a match, get in touch and get sharing!

You don’t have to Liftshare every day, even sharing once a week with someone makes a big difference. You’d be surprised how much the benefits add up over time; we’re talking financial savings (drivers can make back up to 100% of their fuel costs by sharing), as well as reducing your carbon footprint and decreasing congestion and parking pressures. Plus you might make some great new connections!

You can read the Ts and Cs of the competition over at the Liftshare website.

Parking and Road Updates

Student Centre (Sports Centre pink zone car park)from now until Wednesday 31 July

36 bays will be closed to assist with the building of the Student Centre (SPS and Biosciences), as requested by Estates Department.

Works to replace Tennis Centre (Pavilion car park) – from now until Tuesday 31 December

9 bays closed to assist with works to replace Tennis Centre, as requested by Estates Department.

Continuation of drainage works (Hothe Court) – from now until Friday 21 June

14 bay car park closed to assist with drainage work, as requested by Estates Department.

Reserved Coach Parking (Giles Lane car park) – Sunday 16 June – Friday 13 September

41 bays will be closed to assist with Coach Parking in the non-barrier access area of the Giles Lane car park, as requested by Conference Office and Enrolment Management Services.