RESIDENTS fighting for parking permits have won support from Oxfordshire County Council but no promise of money to pay for them.

The county council has said it will seek residents’ views on how much support there is for the plans, following a public meeting last month to discuss the plans with the council’s David Tole, of the traffic regulation order team.

Spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “In principle the county council is supportive of residents’ parking schemes in areas such as this but currently there is no funding identified for implementing a scheme in the Marston area.

“We recently attended a meeting organised by the parish council and it was agreed that they will carry out a new survey of residents to ascertain the level of support for taking action.

“The county council will assist the parish in formulating the survey questions, using the experience gained in other areas.”

Residents have long complained commuters and workers from the John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxford Brookes University park on their streets.

Cherwell Drive, Ewin Close, Elms Drive, Horeseman Close and Ashlong Road are often cited as the worst hit.

Marston Parish Council chairman Charlie Haynes said: “The meeting was exceptionally well-attended and obviously people are extremely vocal.

“I’m sure Mr Tole appreciates the parishioner’s concerns as well as the parish council’s and we hope to see the ball moving a lot quicker than it has done.”

Mr Haynes added that the problem was worse during term times when buses sometimes struggle to pass because the roads are so congested.

He said: “Sometimes two buses will come along and they can’t do anything because the streets are gridlocked.

“People can’t get into their driveways and cars are left for days on end.”

Mick Haines, an independent Marston councillor on Oxford City Council, is seeking 1,000 signatures on a petition calling for action.

He said: “I want us all to work together to get a solution to the problem.

“People say they have not got the money but it always seems that they can find the money if it’s something desperate they want to have – it just seems there’s no money when it comes to Marston.”

An Oxford Brookes spokesman said it was aware of concerns and it provides parking for staff.

He said: “Oxford Brookes University has regular meetings with the local community and works collaboratively to address any difficulties. The university has met with local councillors specifically on this issue to discuss the various contributory factors.”

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust commercial and estate director Mark Trumper said: “We are disappointed if staff park in a way which causes difficulties for local residents, and it is something we strongly discourage.

“We would welcome the opportunity to develop more on-site parking to enable staff, patients and visitors to park at the hospital itself, and remove the burden from local neighbours.”

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