Neighbours 'at breaking point' over college-related problems
College boss accepts complaints but insists he has no powers to act
A college boss has accepted neighbours complaints of traffic and anti-social behaviour in the area - but insists there are limited opportunities to take action.
Thomas Rotherham College has grown in size recently, with a current roll of 1,600 students.
But neighbours say traffic congestion and anti-social behaviour have reached unacceptable levels.
They claim that, two weeks into the academic year, they have “reached breaking point” as a result of traffic levels, parking issues and anti-social behaviour around Boston Castle Grove.
Those issues have resulted in the area’s Neighbourhood Watch group receiving “an unprecedented rise in messages from residents worried about the daily disruption caused when large numbers of students, parents and vehicles converge on the narrow residential road”.
College principal Joel Wirth has responded with an acceptance that problems exist - but states much is beyond the control of the college.
Mr Wirth said residents “correctly indicate some of the issues that living directly opposite a college will likely present.
“The building at TRC, with its single lane access road, long predates the age of the car, and access to and from the college site is extremely challenging.
“However, it is not in the power of the college to change this.
“While our neighbours might expect the college to take action, we have always been at pains to explain the limitations of our remit.
“The college has no authority to manage vehicular access to Boston Castle Grove.
“We have no authority to manage student use of pavements in the local area.
“That said, we would support all and every effort on the part of the authorities to mitigate the impact that the college's increased successes are evidently having on our closest neighbours.”
That could include working with police and those responsible for public transport.
“We shall continue to communicate regularly about the importance of recognising that the college sits cheek-by-jowl with a residential community, and we are proud of the behaviour and conduct of the overwhelming majority of our students.
“Where necessary, we take firm and timely action to address any instances of misconduct or anti-social behaviour that are reported to us,” he said.
Residents who contacted the Advertiser said the pinch points for problems at Boston Castle Grove were drop-off and pick-up times.
“Residents describe vehicles parked illegally on already narrow pavements, cars mounting kerbs to force their way through, and traffic becoming gridlocked for up to half an hour while drivers wait to collect students.
“In some cases, pedestrians and students themselves are said to have been forced out of the path of vehicles travelling partly on the pavement.“Instances of road-rage and confrontation are evident on a daily basis and these could easily escalate.”
They say litter levels are up, with students barred from smoking or vaping on college premises taking to surrounding streets for the habit.