Parking on Campus

Open Parking operate an ANPR based parking management system at Queen Margaret University.  

ANPR operates very similarly to CCTVs. A High definition infra-red camera is positioned at the entry/exit point to the car park which will capture number plates of all vehicles as they enter/exit the area.

The evidence captured by the ANPR camera is then analysed and cross referenced against a large database of the permitted rules for that car park or area. If the rules of the car park are broken, then enforcement is carried out by way of a parking charge notice being issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle by post

Annual permit

There are 5 types of annual permit available to Staff. The 3 below are applied for directly by staff and students

1. General Permit
2. Car share Permit
3. Disabled Permit

While the 2 below are organised and paid for by departments for particular job roles.

1. Shift Permit
2. Essential Business User Permit(EBU)

Permits must be applied for fresh each year. If a permit is surrendered for any reason may be eligible for a pro-rata refund.

Proof Documentation 

All applications require 2 x proof documents.  1 document must be from the “VEHICLE” category and one from the “RESIDENT” category.  Suitable documents from each category are as below:-

Vehicle

V5C Log Book
Vehicle Lease Agreement
Insurance Certificate

Resident

Driving Licence – Provided it is registered to your term time address
Bank Statement
Council Tax Bill
Tenancy Agreement

Users with postcodes excluded by system

The system for annual permits automatically sifts applications based on home postcode.  In the event that you are unable to complete an application as your postcode is excluded, please complete an “APPEAL” application through the system. 

General permits

General Permits are allocated on the basis of need, against specific criteria, such as distance and availability of public transport, medical need, or adult or child care needs. Students living in on-campus accommodation will not be permitted to park on campus unless exceptional circumstances apply. E.g. students on placement may be allowed for the length of their placement to park on campus. Charges will apply.

Permits are charged on a sliding scale based on vehicle engine carbon profile. Permit costs will be pro-rated for part-time staff.

In response to student feedback, we have created a single semester permit, which is particularly useful for those students who are on campus for half of the year and on placement the other half. Semester one permits will be issued from 1st September - 31st January. Semester 2 Permits will be issued from 1st January - 31st May.

Part time staff costs are pro-rated. The parking system automatically calculates your permit price provided correct information has been entered into your application.

Car share permit

Car share: Cost of permit - £60/Group

As part of our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of vehicular access to the campus, QMU has invested in a car sharing scheme. It aims to: reduce the impact of single car occupancy on the local environment, offer staff and students an alternative to lone driving wherever possible, and utilise QMU’s limited car parking resources as efficiently as possible.

When permits are allocated, priority will be given to those who choose to car share. Car sharing is defined as when two or more registered drivers share the journey to and from QMU by car. Individuals wishing to car share should register online (QMU Car Share)

**Driving with non car owner passengers does not constitute car share, as they would otherwise be using public transport.

Individuals who are members of an external car share group will be issued ordinary permits, if appropriate, as part of the general permit scheme for staff and students, they would not qualify for QMU car share permits.

One person must be the primary applicant of the carshare. They will need to submit the application and provide verification documents for all members.

Car share applicants within 3 miles of campus or those living at the same address do not qualify for a permit unless there are exceptional circumstances.

A number of spaces in row C of the carpark are reserved only for carshare permit holders.

Accessible/ Disabled permits

Staff and students in possession of a valid blue badge will still require a permit to use the carpark due to the use of ANPR. Please make sure the blue badge is prominently displayed inside the windscreen so that all details are clearly visible from outside the vehicle.

Accessible/ Disabled permits can be applied for via the how to apply guidance found below.  When an account is created, a disabled permit is the permit type that should be completed.  In order to support the application, a copy of the blue badge should be added or endorsement from Health and Safety/ Students services.

Any applications made which do not have the relevant supporting details will be rejected.  

A temporary disabled permit may be issued to individuals, where considered appropriate, who have temporary need to be close to the entrance of the building for health/injury reasons.

Permits issued are for the benefit of the person who has the disability only and are not transferable.

Where a disabled permit holder has a regular helper/driver, rather than drive themselves, that driver may qualify for a 50% reduction in their personal permit price.

Shift permits

In certain cases, such as shift workers there will be a shift permit paid for and retained by the department, in recognition of the lower frequency of public transport provision during certain times of day.

Essential business user permits

An essential user is a member of staff whose duties require extensive offsite travel, that is, virtually every day. Nomination as an essential user will be contingent upon verifiable data supplied by the departments and on request of manager. Essential user permits are charged at £100 which cost will be borne by the user’s department.

Applications for the academic year 2022/23 are now closed. Applications for 2023/24 will open in August.

To create and account or start an application, please go to the Parking Permits portal.

How to Apply 

When creating an application you must supply two pieces of supporting documentation.  These are:- 

1)  The V5 for the vehicle 

2)  A proof of address - This should be term time address and suggested items would be a bill, lease agreement, etc.   

Daily parking is offered via our 3rd party providers online app, PayByPhone, which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store

After downloading the app, it is suggested that you should populate your registration and payment details into the system first before trying to purchase a voucher to make the process easier.  

Daily Parking can also be purchased using the PayByPhone website or via text when within the car park. 

These should not be purchased in advance as they do not guarantee a space. 

The current charge for daily parking is £5 per day 

The site code for QMU is 807056

Guides to assist with install and use 

Coming to campus for meetings/workshops

Please contact the organiser of your visit in advance to make arrangements. Your vehicle registration should be provided to the organiser at least 24 hours before attendance on campus to ensure you receive free parking and do not receive a PCN.  

It is your responsibility to check with your host that you are registered on the system.  

Coming to campus for events/conferences

If you are coming to the university for one of our events or conferences, there is no additional cost to use the carpark provided you have registered with the organiser of the event at least 7 days before the start.  Failure to do so may result in the need to pay the daily parking rate of £5 to park your vehicle.  

Please contact the events staff with any event parking queries. events@qmu.ac.uk

General visitor parking

Any visitors outside of the above can use the carpark but will be required to purchase daily parking as per the information found on this page.  

There is no physical voucher/ permit to be displayed within the vehicle as all validation checks are carried out utilising ANPR based software. 

 *Please note that use of the carpark is only restricted at the following time, but this is subject to change:

1st September - 31st May, Monday to Friday, 8:00am-5:30pm
No permit is required out with the above times

Enforcement

Enforcement of permits is in use from 0800 to 1730 Monday to Friday. Out with this time, parking is free.

Enforcement is carried out via the use of our ANPR based camera situated on entry to the car park.  In the event that someone parks without a valid permit, the registered keeper of the vehicle will receive a £60 Parking Charge Notice, reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days.    

This will be supplemented by enforcement patrols carried out by the Campus Operations team. Tickets issued must be appealed to the Parking Operator as detailed on the ticket and not to Queen Margaret University.

In the event that your parking permit application has been declined, there is the opportunity to appeal this decision. An appeal should be made where you feel insufficient consideration has been given to your extenuating circumstances, i.e. caring arrangements, or where new information has come to light which was not in the originally application but may increase your likelihood of being issued a permit, i.e. you are moving house.

If you wish to make an appeal, the process is as follows:

1. Log into your PermitSmarti Account
2. Click for a new application
3. Complete a “Permit Appeals” application.
4. Complete this application with reasons for appeal/ why you need a permit.
5. Attach all supporting documentation to support the reasons for your appeal.

Once the appeal is created, you will be able to track its progress in your account, under the “My Applications” tab. It will be passed to a senior manager and a decision made. The reasons for the decision will be provided to you at this stage. This decision is, however, final and no further appeals can be made following the completion of this process.

At all times during the appeals process, the daily parking rate must be paid for each day you are in the car park.  This can be purchased via the 3rd party suppliers parking app, with further details found on the daily parking section of this webpage, at a charge of £5 per day. No refund will be given on the cost of daily parking permits if a full permit is granted on appeal.

It should be understood that the number of parking spaces and permit allocation restrictions underpin the University’s commitment to reducing single occupant car use and due consideration must be given by those making an appeal that the University has a long standing commitment to sustainable methods of transport where possible.

Why do I have to pay to park in the car park?

As part of the University’s commitment to sustainability and in line with the Green Travel Policy, QMU has identified a robust parking management system as a key mechanism in road traffic reduction as well as a major influence on travel choice.

You can find more information on the University Parking Policy and Green Travel Plan Strategy.

How do you determine the price of a permit?

There are five categories of permit cost and each is based on the CO2 emissions from your vehicle. The five categories and prices are as shown below:

How likely am I to get a permit?

The likelihood of getting a permit is based on a number of factors, such as proximity to the campus and availability of public transport options. We will be processing applications in batches and those that receive permits will do so based on need/ requirement.

I stay in the student accommodation; can I get a permit?

Residents in the accommodation will not normally be granted a permit; if you have mitigating circumstances these may be taken into account in determining your eligibility for a permit.

I have childcare commitments; does that guarantee me a permit?

There are a number of mitigating circumstances and exceptions that will be taken into consideration when a permit application is released. This is why we ask on certain permits for as much supporting information as possible to enable us to make an informed decision.

Which supporting documents do I need for my parking application?

 Please upload the following 2 Supporting Documents in your permit application:

- Proof of term-time address

- A copy of your vehicle's V5 form (the vehicle logbook your car is given upon registration)

Why do I have to send my proof of address/vehicle V5?

We use these items to support your application and ensure that you live where you say you live (you must use your term time address for your permit application) and that the CO2 emissions are what you have completed in the application form. We also require proof of any exemptions that you have informed us of to make sure we are assigning permits to those with the greatest need e.g. caring requirements.

Do I have to do this every year?

Once we have verified the details within the application, the items are deleted and no longer held to meet with data Protection requirements. This therefore means that we require your documents at each application.

I can’t see the emissions data on my V5 or don’t have it, is there any way that I can find out the CO2 emissions of my vehicle?

There is a government website that can assist you with regards to this.

Does a permit guarantee me a space?

A permit does not guarantee you a space. We assign permits to an agreed limit which should ensure availability of spaces based on patterns of use and frequency which staff and students attend the campus. A permit means you are entitled to park in the car park.

What should I do if I cannot get a permit?

If you do not get a permit, there are a number of other travel options available. They can all be found on the getting here section of the University website. Day permits are available at a cost of £5 and can be purchased via our web based system or the paysmarti app found on Google play store and Apple app store

I bring a motorbike to work, do I need a permit?

You should still apply for permit and follow the standard process.  

Where else can i park if not on campus?

As an alternative to parking on campus, please consider the use of the local Park and Ride facilities at Newcraighall and Wallyford which are all connected by direct bus services to QMU.

Parking at Wallyford Park & Ride is free and can be accessed via a 4 minute train journey for off-peak day return fare of £2.30 (£3.20 peak). Students can also access the Park & Ride at Wallyford using the Prentice 111 service for FREE on presentation of their matriculation card.

If these frequently asked questions have not helped with your query, please contact parking@qmu.ac.uk.

Open Parking is a trading name of Imperial (Imperial Civil Enforcement Solutions Ltd), the UK’s largest and most experienced provider of parking, environmental and traffic management systems.

Open Parking has over 30 years’ experience in delivering end-to-end, fully integrated parking management solutions. We are the largest provider of parking software and back office processing in the UK.

All our products are developed in house so we can offer our clients an unrivalled combination of sector insight, leading-edge yet proven technology and award-winning services.

We provide a reasonable, fair and understanding approach to parking management. Our approach concentrates on delivering a positive, customer-focused experience as well as offering safety, security and an efficient, reliable and responsive management of parking services.

Open Parking has already helped hundreds of clients including universities, NHS Trusts, private land owners and operators improve their parking management. Whatever your sector, we can offer you a parking management solution that will fit the needs of your site. 

Open Parking is a proud member of the International Parking Community’s “Approved Operator Scheme” and is also affiliated with the Healthcare Parking Charter and Higher & Further Education Parking Charter. In line with the expectations of these charters we ensure that a fair service is provided to all motorists, with our focus being on parking management rather than enforcement.