CONSTRUCTION of the new community building in Bicester has made parking problems much worse for residents living opposite.

Householders are calling for more to be done to prioritise parking for neighbours of the development in Dunkins Close.

They say the removal of the 85-space Franklins Yard car park and ongoing construction has made the issue worse, with builders and shoppers clogging up the road.

Resident Barbara Dasilva said: “They need to think about the people living in the area.

“We have had a lot of people parking in front of the steps, which causes problems for the elderly who can’t get to the handrail.

“It should be a permit holder-only area and for nobody else. It is used as Bicester’s car park – it is ridiculous.”

When this picture was taken at about 9am residents said nine out of the 11 cars parked up were visitors.

Sheila Jeacock, who cares for her brother Brian Pickett in the close, said: “He finds it difficult getting up and down those steps, especially with cars parking in front of them. They park and go off to work in the town.”

Robert Jenkins, spokesman for developers Morgan Sindall, said: “All vehicles associated with our site are under strict instructions not to park in local residents’ streets.”

Cherwell District Council says the Sainsbury’s multi-storey car park was built to cater for loss of spaces.

Residents said clamping was the ideal solution.

A Cherwell District Council spokesman said: “We cannot enforce on the highways as we do not operate under civil parking enforcement. Thames Valley Police currently enforce parking regulations on the highways.”

Thames Valley Police said: “Parking enforcement is the responsibility of police in Cherwell.

“When vehicles are parked dangerously or causing an unnecessary obstruction, this will be investigated.”