ANGRY students have given Bury College bosses a black mark over a lack of car parking spaces.

And they are even considering raising sufficient cash to construct their own student car park on land at the newly-opened Millennium Centre in Market Street.

Car owners who are forced to park on the main road are having to fork out £30 a time after fixed penalty notices were slapped on their vehicles.

A petition is being drawn up by protest leaders who have also written to Bury mayor Councillor Bill Johnson over the issue.

One of the leaders of the campaign for a student car park is 20-year-old Amir Knopf.

"There is a staff car park at the old Bury College and one for staff at the new Millennium Centre," he points out.

"We estimate that between 80-90 per cent of the students have cars and that next year more than 300 students will have their own transport. "Yet, despite these high figures, the college don't provide any parking facilities for them."

Amir says the matter is aggravated given that many students are forced to park in nearby Market Street, certain sections of which have parking restrictions.

"Many get tickets every day, even although they are parked in areas where no restrictions apply," he claimed.

"In fact, one student got 14 tickets in just two weeks."

Amir, who is a member of the students' committee, continued: "Why don't the staff park on the road. They can afford the fines. The students can't.

"We've been told by the college they can't provide a car park for us because they haven't got the money."

He disclosed that if the college fail to provide the spaces, then the students themselves will try to raise the money for their own car park.

"There is enough land within the college grounds for a student car park," Amir went on.

After writing to Bury's mayor, Coun Johnson told the student leader he would raise the issue with local authority officials and Bury College principal Dr Helen Gilchrist.

Paul Maykels, Bury College marketing co-ordinator, said one of the key decisions surrounding the chosen site for the Millennium Centre was because of the "excellent public transport network that serves this central location.

"Bury College remains committed to the philosophy behind this."

He added: "As explained to all students during their induction, Bury College has a Learner Support Fund for students in financial need of money for public transport."

The college say many hundreds have already taken advantage of this and more than 500 students have benefited during 1999-2000.

Mr Maykels continued: "We have a very consultative approach to listening to our students.

"There are student places on our governing body, there is the student council, student liaison officers and regular feedback via questionnaires and do feel that these are appropriate forums for discussing individual concerns."