OXFORD BROOKES has given out 1,000 more bus passes in the hope of stopping students parking on a country road.

A line of parked cars, sometimes up to a mile long, is forcing traffic to drive on the wrong side of Waterperry Road in Holton, near Brookes’ Wheatley campus., which villagers say is putting lives at risk.

The road, which runs next to the campus, has a 60 mph limit.

The extra bus passes represent a 20 per cent increase on the 5,000 already given out to students for free.

The university has also brought in parking wardens to help tackle the problems.

Brookes director of corporate affairs Anne Gwinnett said: “Oxford Brookes encourages students to leave their cars at home.

“The Brookes Bus has routes covering the city and runs four times an hour to and from Wheatley campus during the day.

“In late afternoons and evenings we allow people to park on campus without a permit.”

Students who lives within 500 metres of a Brookes bus route are not eligible for a parking permit.

But not all residents are convinced by the new measures.

Victoria Harding-Saunders, 30, who lives in Waterperry Road, said: “The line has got longer and longer every day this year.

It is now a good mile long. They university is not doing enough.”

Her mother, Judy Harding-Saunders, 56, said: “It is so scary if you meet a big lorry. You either have to reverse or drive in a ditch.

“When all the students are walking in the road you have to toot them, or one of us will have an accident.”

In October, Brookes carried out public consultation over long-term plans to completely redevelop the Wheatley campus.

Parking rules could be changed as a result – but not for another decade.

Residents have sent petitions through Holton Parish Council to Oxfordshire County Council along with representations to Brookes.

There are 500 student parking spaces at the campus, with permits costing £80 a year.

Holton Parish Council chairman Anthony Yeates said: “We had double yellow lines painted in Wheatley and the students just keep moving, so we have got to continually expand.

“We feel that Brookes should look at ways of encouraging students to be considerate instead of paying £80 up- front.”

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said that some residents had objected to the idea of double yellow lines, because it would just move the problem to a different location.

Mr Crabtree added: “We would hope that students and the university are able to find a solution.”

Thames Valley Police declined to comment last night.