Commuters sparked parking carnage outside our homes but the council is forcing US to pay £70 – it makes our blood boil
LOCAL residents are in a spin over new parking plans in a busy town.
They are being asked to pay £70 a year to park their cars outside their own homes in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
Many are fuming over the council’s proposals, branding the move as “yet another money-grab”.
But others welcome the new regulations, saying the parking restrictions will end the chaos caused by rail commuters dumping their cars outside Didcot residents’ homes and jumping on a train to London.
The controversial scheme to introduce permit-only parking bays in the streets surrounding Didcot Parkway rail station was announced by Oxfordshire council earlier this year.
Workmen have been putting signs up in recent days and yesterday some streets were sectioned off by yellow bollards ahead of white lines being painted in the road to indicate the permit-only parking zones.
The permits, which are only available to residents, will cost £70 per household.
Many locals who have until now been able to park their vehicles in the street outside their homes for nothing today expressed their anger over the charge.
One, 33-year-old Xiumei (correct), said: “Don’t residents already pay the local authority enough in council tax, car park fees and other charges?
“Now they want another £70 for us to be able to park our own cars outside our own homes. It’s just yet another money-grab.
“I’m very disappointed with the local council.”
Xiumei, who runs a small educational business from her home, added:
“It’s absolutely not fair. We should have the right to park outside our homes for free.”
But other locals backed the charge, saying it will reduce the chaos caused by rail commuters who ditch their cars in the streets near the station when they take the train to London for their jobs.
Retired NHS porter Colin Marks, 68, said on many occasions he has been unable to use his car, which he parks in his driveway, because commuters park across his entrance.
“It is extremely annoying because it means I cannot go anywhere until they come back from their trip.
“It’s happened frequently and it makes my blood boil.”
Colin Marks, Didcot resident
“It’s happened frequently and it makes my blood boil. Motorists can be incredibly selfish when they’re racing for a train and they’ll dump their cars anywhere.
“I fully support the council in this because the permit bays will send a signal to these selfish motorists that it’s not ok for them to park wherever they like.
“However, I do see the point of view of locals without their own driveways who are annoyed about the £70 permit charge.
“But if they could see how many cars block the driveways in this street alone, they might see my point of view too.”
We also caught up with Amy, a mum dropping off her daughter by car at a local nursery school, who highlighted the added pressure she and others place on the traffic issues in this area of Didcot.
Amy, in her early 30s, said: “I do feel bad about parking here when I drop my daughter off and collect her later, but I live too far away to walk here so I do try and time my journeys in such a way that avoids the busy times of the day.
“I fully sympathise with the local residents who must get so fed up with all the traffic here. Sometimes it can be carnage out here with all the parents dropping children off and the rail commuters looking for spaces.
“To then demand £70 off the residents to park outside their own homes seems totally unfair. I totally understand their frustration.”
One of the rail commuters, Tony, a health and safety consultant in his early 50s, said he too sympathises with local residents but argued he lives too far away from the station to make the journey to Didcot on foot.
“I understand the locals’ despair over us commuters using their streets for parking, but I always try and park as far from the station, in the less congested streets, as I can.
“I’d never park selfishly.”
Nearby, trainee solicitor Tim, 34, was also taking advantage of the near-empty street to park up before embarking on his rail trip.
He said: “There is a distinct lack of affordable parking in Didcot so people are forced to park in the streets. I guess when the permit bays are in force, we’ll have to use the multi-storey car park in town and pay through the teeth for it.”
The new residents’ parking scheme applies to Cronshaw Close, Haydon Road, Lydalls Road, Station Road and White Leys Close.
The council said the venture is “intended to prioritise residents’ parking needs” with all money raised going towards enforcement.
The authority has asked residents to avoid parking on the roads while the lining work is taking place in the days ahead.
Signs will soon be installed in the streets which say when work will happen, the council added.
A council spokesperson said: “Controlled parking zones are intended to prioritise residents’ parking needs.
“They discourage commuters and other overspill parking from taking up spaces on residential streets.
“Money raised from permits goes directly towards enforcement.
“CPZs are tailored to the needs of the individual area, including the timings of restrictions.
“Residents are welcome to respond to the consultation with their concerns.
“The restrictions only apply to parking on the highway, so do not affect off-street parking on driveways or garages.”
The council has asked residents to apply for new parking permits, which will be virtual rather than on paper.
This allows residents to park their vehicle in permit holder bays immediately after paying rather than waiting for their permit in the post.
Residents can also get up to 50 visitor permits each year, which are issued in batches of 25 every six months.
Blue Badge holders do not need to purchase a permit and can park in the resident’s-only zone for an unlimited time.
Permit-free parking will still be allowed for up to 30 minutes in Haydon Road and Lydalls Road.