Campaigners are "angered and dismayed" after the University of Hertfordshire announced a significant price hike of its campus parking charges.
From August 1, 2025, the university will increase parking fees by 50 per cent, causing backlash from the University and College Union and Unison (UCU).
Parking fees will also rise by an extra 5 per cent every year until 2030.
Since the announcement, a petition has been launched by the union garnering more than 500 signatures
A statement by the UCU added: "Academic and professional staff and students have been angered and dismayed by the University’s decision to announce a staggering 50 per cent rise in campus parking charges from August 1.
"These increases far outstrip inflation and come at a time when many are already struggling with the cost-of living crisis.
"The hardest hit will be those who can least afford it: our lowest‑paid professional staff who must be on campus daily. Meanwhile, the university has cash reserves of £90 million.
"And this attack on staff and students comes as the university sits on reserves of more than £90 million."
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Campaigners believe the the university "failed to assess" the equality impact on its students with caring responsibilities and staff/students with disabilities.
A University of Hertfordshire spokesperson responded: “Each year, it costs the University around £500,000 more to run our parking facilities than we receive through parking charges.
"We believe it’s important that parking should be funded by those who use it, not by all staff or our students, and therefore we’ve made the difficult decision to increase our parking costs for the first time in three years."
The university highlighted that measures have been introduced to reduce the impact on staff and students of lower incomes and support sustainable travel options.
"Measures include increasing the eligibility for discounted season tickets and free annual Uno bus passes," a spokesperson added.
“Any income generated through parking will be reinvested directly into maintaining and improving our parking services for our staff and students.”
To view the petition visit: https://action.unison.org.uk/page/173676/petition/1?locale=en-GB
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