TRADING could be banned on main roads into Banbury in a bid to clamp down on the growing number of unofficial ‘car lots’ across the town.

A dozen roads in Banbury have been plagued by traders parking up vehicles and sticking ‘for sale’ signs on them.

In recent months residents have noticed an increase in cars for sale with some reporting up to 12 cars for sale in one street.

Now Cherwell District Council is planning to get tough. Next, week its executive will look at the issue and decide what action to take. Among the recommendations is a hard-line initiative to designate specific parts or whole streets, main roads and laybys in Banbury as ‘prohibited streets for trading’. This would also close a loophole in the law whereby traders are only prevented from selling two or more cars within 500 metres of each other.

Councillor Kieron Mallon, who represents Banbury Easington, said at the moment, traders strategically positioned cars around the town to beat current regulations.

He said: “It’s one of the options we can pursue. I think it would be the first time it was done in Banbury.

“Obviously we would have to do more background research to see how it works in other areas.

“However, it is a persistent problem particularly with rogue traders in Banbury.

“Perhaps it’s about time we brought in some big guns to get it sorted out.

“It would literally drive rogue traders off the road.”

Mr Mallon said the initiative would not prevent a resident selling his old car in their street, but was designed to target traders.

For the past two years Cherwell’s officers have been out on weekly patrols in car trading hotspots.

Staff have checked registration and insurance details with the DVLA, fired off warning letters to owners, and passed details of suspected traders to trading standards.

And recently police, trading standards and council officials have teamed up to launch a crackdown in Bloxham Road after complaints from residents.

Mr Mallon said people who bought from traders left themselves open to problems getting their money back if there were issues with cars. He said: “Who would want to buy a used car from someone like this? Who would want to buy a used car from someone at the end of a mobile phone?”

Among the roads affected are Broughton Road, Warwick Road, Stratford Road, Southam Road, Bloxham Road and Oxford Road. There are also problems in Woodgreen Avenue, Kingsway, Ruscote and Queensway.

The issue is due to be discussed by Cherwell’s executive on Monday, June 15.

Councillors are also recommended to urge Oxfordshire trading standards to step up enforcement and prosecution.