Students are already discouraged from bringing cars to the city

The University of Durham was reported to be considering banning students from using their cars within a five-mile radius of the Cathedral.

But Durham County Council highways manager Roger Elphick said there might be less severe solutions.

He said one suggestion was reduced fares on special buses in the city.

Dean of colleges and student support, Professor Tim Burt, said last week that the university was exploring a set of proposals to discourage car usage in central areas of Durham.

But Mr Elphick said the problem was not so much traffic congestion, but of car parking.

He said: "We believe that imposing a unilateral five mile ban around the city on student cars may turn out to be rather like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Part-time jobs

"The Park and Ride schemes we are hoping to introduce on the three arterial routes into the city by next summer will result in more people leaving their cars on the edge of the city and completing the journey by special buses.

"We are already looking at discounting fares for students on some of these buses and that should make them more attractive."

Student Union president Craig Jones said many students needed to use cars because they had part-time jobs outside the city.

Mr Elphick agreed that an outright ban on student car ownership was not the solution.

"We have some sympathy for the arguments put forward by students that, in certain circumstances, they need to bring cars to Durham.

"I believe the way forward lies in all those parties involved getting together to take a fresh look at what can be done, and that includes the university authorities, students, public transport operators, the city council and ourselves."