At a Police And Community Together (PACT) meeting, residents were dismayed to find out that a 184-space temporary car park on the campus runs out of planning permission in January, meaning the current 580 spaces will be reduced to just under 400.

Ian Rodham, the university's new travel plan coordinator, told last Tuesday night's meeting that improved guidance, cycling initiatives, a "car club" and the freezing of on-campus parking fees could help but added: "We can't predict how things will go when the new term starts, we'll have to see what happens in late September and review things again then."

He also added that the X1 bus service coming from Lancaster train station would no longer stop at the university from September onwards.

County Coun Sam Riches, who represents Lancaster East, said this was a worry, but added she would give full backing to the car club scheme, which could see students, teachers and even residents sharing cars.

Research undertaken by Mr Rod-ham showed that on average between 220 and 250 "university cars" were parked in the streets of Bowerham on a day-to-day basis.

Peter Lea, who runs Lea's Groceries and Off Licence in Coulston Road, said: "The best thing that could happen would be for the university to go back to providing free parking on campus."

Mr Rodham said that this would not be in keeping with the university's "green objectives", but added that he would be trying to encourage students and teachers to park at Williamson Park and would be working with city council planners to see if there was anything that could be done about the loss of the temporary car park.