Lack of parking on residence sparks debate among students

CLC Upper-Year Townhouse Residence has three parking spots available for 20 minutes. Students have mixed emotions about putting in a proper parking lot in the open field. Photo by Deanna Fraser, QNet News

By Deanna Fraser

BELLEVILLE – Some Loyalist College students living in the CLC Upper-Year Townhouse residence are concerned about the lack of parking near the residence. But not everyone who lives there thinks more parking is necessary.

Recreation and Leisure student Bradley Thompson says there is no excuse as to why there is no parking.

“We pay all this money to have these nice residence and yet you have to walk all across campus to just bring in groceries,” he said.

General Arts and Science student Sarah McNeil thinks that having no parking is an inconvenience.

“It’s really unnecessary to have so little parking when there is so much space with the fields. That space isn’t being used. No one actually uses the rink. It’s really annoying to have to walk to the parking lot all the way on old res and back.”

Students also took to social media to express concern about the lack of parking.

But some students disagree with the need for more parking.

Allyssa Horning, a residence assistant for CLC, told QNet News that although it is an inconvenience, it’s better in the long run.

“When you think about it, that’s one more spot they’d have to maintain, which would make our cost of living go up. I’d much rather have it cheaper and walk a bit,” she said.

The only parking available are the three spots where students can only be parked for 20 minutes.

Community and Justice Services student Alysia Kefalas says she has gotten multiple tickets over the years.

“When you go a long day and you go to the grocery store and you come home, you unload. You sit down for five minutes to relax, but then five minutes really turns in to an hour and you come out and you have a ticket,” said Kefalas.

Student Life director Fred Pollitt says that the idea to put in parking was first discussed when the buildings were going up. However, there were problems that stopped it from happening.

“CLC backs onto Potter’s Creek and it flows into the conservation area,” he said.

Pollitt admits that it isn’t the most convenient but thinks the greenery is what makes Loyalist different.

“There’s not a lot of college’s with this much green space. I don’t know if I’d like to see all that beautiful space eliminated just for a parking lot. It’s a beautiful stretch of land around CLC,” Pollitt said.