AFTER 12 months of back-and-forths both on the road and between councils, much-needed parking restrictions have finally been approved for Blackbird Leys.

Last week Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet member for environment and transport, David Nimmo Smith, approved a raft of measures aiming to reduce the parking nightmare in near the Leys Pools and Leisure Centre and beyond.

Double yellow lines in parts of Pegasus Road, Field Avenue and Windale Avenue will be introduced and a road narrowing feature moved to make it more effective.

Speaking during a delegated decisions meeting on Thursday (18/3) Mr Nimmo Smith said: "I understand. I drove up there the other day and got stuck with all the cars.

"A lot of the roads are narrow around there with issues all over the place. I think the proposals are perfectly pragmatic and reasonable."

For Blackbird Leys Parish Council the move represents a victory after a year and a half of complaints from local residents.

Chairman Gordon Roper said: "Of course I am pleased. We have been fighting for it for months, especially down by the leisure centre and also near Pegasus School. Those are the two worst places and let's hope they get them done first.

"No-one knows what effect it will have until it's done but it will ease congestion and make it a lot safer for people crossing the roads."

In July it was estimated that the work would cost £20,000 and could be paid for through Section 106, which see developers of large projects pay for smaller ones in the community to mitigate their impact on the local area. Mr Roper, however, was unsure if having the money would speed up the work.

He said: "Just because they have passed it, nothing happens with the council overnight. It could be six months or two years before it's all created."

A consultation that took place earlier this year received 19 responses from local people, of which seven were objections.

In the main those who objected did so on the grounds that it would make it more difficult to park outside their homes. Others said the new measures needed to be enforced.

One Ashmole Place resident said: "This idea in principle will not work without the introduction of parking permits."

Another said: "I support the proposal with one reservation. There is little point in painting lines on the road if there is no intention of employing people to enforce parking restrictions."