A new housing development could help solve chronic parking problems around Long Hanborough’s railway station.

Growing numbers of commuters driving to the station to catch trains to Oxford, Reading and London have overwhelmed the 50-space car park, with many leaving their vehicles on verges along the A4095.

After residents demanded action, councillors, the rail industry and Cottsway Housing joined forces to come up with a potential solution.

A feasibility study is under way into a mixed-use development in a field alongside the railway line, between the station and the village, combining affordable housing owned by Cottsway with a 100-space car park for rail users.

A new timetable will be launched on September 12, following completion of the £67m line redoubling scheme, with Hanborough and Charlbury set to get a half-hourly morning rush-hour service from December.

The number of passengers using the station has grown by almost 50 per cent since 2005, with 104,000 journeys starting or ending there in 2009-10, up from 70,500 in 2005-6. As a result, the car park is often full by 6.45am on weekdays.

Another site that could offer extra parking is the former Hewden plant hire depot, which backs on to the existing station car park. The site is for sale, with a price tag understood to be about £800,000.