More parking restrictions will be introduced near Didcot Parkway Station following concerns about “a plague of commuters and shoppers” parking on nearby roads at the expense of residents.
The proposals include introducing no-waiting at any time restrictions (double yellow lines) on sections of multiple roads. Other roads would have permit holder restrictions under the plans.
Councillor Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management for Oxfordshire County Council, agreed to approve the scheme during a meeting on Thursday, 23 January.
All Saints Court and Great Western Drive were initially included in the plans but were removed due to the number of objections from the public.
Speaking at the meeting, councillor Ian Snowdon, who represents Didcot West on the county council, said he welcomed the removal of the two roads from the scheme, but that enforcement of the rules needs to improve.
He said: “The reason this scheme is coming forward is purely because of the plague of commuters and shoppers, and the annoyance they cause residents by parking for days on end.
“A lot of residents are rightly angry that we’re making these schemes but not enforcing it.
“We can’t just profiteer from these schemes. We are supposed to represent their residents and make their lives more liveable.”
He added that the scheme should not include Sundays.
Representatives of All Saints’ Church, which lies on Lydalls Road, echoed calls for the proposed restrictions on their road to be eased.
Dr Nick Hards, a lay minister at All Saints’ Church, said: “We do not think the section of Lydalls Road outside the church needs such extensive parking restrictions as those proposed.
“We appreciate the help which the county council gives us when there is a funeral or a wedding, but these are not the only occasions when the parking on Lydalls Road is used by the church.
“Some members of our congregation prefer to park in the lay-by and walk from Lydalls Road when they attend services, and a hirer uses the Community Hall on Sunday mornings and needs to use the parking there.”
When agreeing to the scheme, Mr Gant noted that council officers would keep in contact with the reverend and representatives of All Saints’ Church.
Mr Gant added: “We need our enforcement to be better frankly, both as a deterrent and as a sanction, and that it’s absolutely being looked at.”
The double yellow lines apply to Bosleys Orchard, Edinburgh Drive, Garth Road, Haydon Road, King Alfred Drive, Lydalls Close, Lydalls Road, Manor Road, Melton Drive, Orchard Close, and Stonor Close.
The plans would also introduce permit holders only past this point restrictions on sections of Blagrave Close, Blenheim Close, Bosleys Orchard, Britwell Road, Edinburgh Drive, Garth Road, Haydon Road, King Alfred Drive, Lydalls Close, Lydalls Road, Manor Road, Melton Drive, Orchard Close, Roman Place, and Stonor Close.
