Oxford – Old Marston double yellow lines to free up suburb

Proposals for double yellows along the Oxford Road in Old Marston have been met with praise following years of parking woes.

Bus service disruptions, schoolchildren at risk while on bikes and traffic jams are some of the issues faced, especially during school pick-up and drop-off times.

Charlotte Vinnicombe (Image: Old Marston Parish Council)

Old Marston has expressed road safety concerns (Image: Matt Simpson)

Charlotte Vinnicombe, Oxford Road resident and a parish councillor for Old Marston, said the double yellow extensions will be “very welcome”.

She said the road around Mortimer Hall is narrow with chicanes and bus stops, saying it gets “very seriously congested” during school rush hour times.

“Cars park on the narrow pavements, and on both sides of the road, exacerbated by a large amount of cut-through traffic. It’s meant to be an access-only road,” Ms Vinnicombe said.

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“The school parking creates significant safety issues for children of all ages, walking and cycling to and from St Nicholas and Swan schools and the pre-school in Mortimer Hall, as well as other pedestrians and cyclists.

“The parking sometimes stops buses getting through, which can cause significant tailbacks.

“It is one of a number of measures that we have been working on for a number of years – that is, Mark Lygo, Mary Clarkson and I as the local Labour team.

“The parish council, of which I’m vice chair, will be looking very closely at the proposals before responding to the consultation, and we will be in touch with the schools for their views as well, who I know have tried hard over the years to encourage more active travel.”

Mary Clarkson. (Image: Oxford City Council)

Mary Clarkson, city councillor for Marston, said she is “very pleased” that the proposal has been put forward by the county council.

No decision has been made yet and will be done after a period of consultation.

Ms Clarkson said she has received many complaints about dangerous parking along the road over the years.

“In particular, cars block the narrow pavements, forcing vulnerable pedestrians out into the road,” she said. “There have been a number of accidents involving cyclists along this stretch.

“Although it may well lead to some displacement of traffic to other roads, nevertheless the parking at this junction is particularly dangerous: the road is quite narrow at this point, as are the pavements.”

Councillor Louise Upton (Image: Oxford City Council)

She said lots of parents with buggies and toddlers frequent the area due to the nearby pre-school, adding the current parking “endangers” cyclists, particularly school children from the Swan and Cherwell schools.

“Mortimer Hall has already installed bollards to stop unauthorised parking outside and this will be another welcome discouragement,” she added.

Louise Upton, a parish councillor for Old Marston, said: “I often cycle along this road at school drop-off or pick-up time and I am always sad to see so many parents sitting in their cars, sometimes with the engine idling, making it dangerous for other children and adults trying to cycle or walk along there.”