16 April 2012 Last updated at 11:30 ET

Nottingham students say parking permit system is 'unfair'

Student Tom Jenkins has had to pay £70 for a parking permit

Students in Nottingham say being charged up to £70 a year to park their cars, while other residents receive free parking permits, is unfair.

The charges have been introduced by Nottingham City Council which says it is trying to create more parking space on the city's streets.

Non-student residents can have three free two-year permits per household.

Tom Jenkins, a Nottingham student who opted to pay for a permit, told BBC Radio 4 it had made life expensive.

"Personally I have decided to keep my car up there and pay for the permit" said Mr Jenkins.

"But I know a lot of students that have decided not to bring their car and it has made travelling around, going to get food and supplies, expensive as you have to pay for taxis or the bus.

"They charge you £70 for the year but when the council brought in the plan for the permit, they brought it in in January and the permit would only last until June. So you were paying for the year and only getting half of it."

If students want to make use of all three two-year permits available to them, they will be charged £420.

In a statement sent to BBC Radio 4's "You and Yours", Nottingham City Council said: "The city council has a duty to help balance the parking needs of students and non-student residents.

"Placing a charge on a student permit might encourage a student to think more carefully about if it is entirely necessary to have a car in Nottingham."

You and Yours can be heard on BBC Radio 4 at midday on weekdays and afterwards on the iPlayer.