KIDLINGTON Parish Council is putting up a wooden fence on land close to the village’s Sainsbury’s roundabout to stop traders selling cars there.

Up to four cars a time have been parked on the area next to the Oxford Road turning, damaging plants and annoying residents, but the council is legally powerless to stop the problem.

Now workmen are set to put up the £1,500 barrier to block entry to the land.

Parish councillor Chris Pack said: “Because they are very clever, they have been getting round the law, so the council has not been able to do much about it.

“Ostensibly they are private sales, but we are pretty sure a dealer is involved. There’s usually three or four cars there, all with mobile numbers to call.

“They have been crushing our bulbs and causing a problem during Kidlington in Bloom.” Oxford City Council is trying to address similar problems within the city boundaries with new proposals to simplify rules on street trading in all of Oxford’s streets.

Under the proposed changes – open to public consultation until September 20 – all streets will be designated as “consent streets”, meaning car dealers must get council and police permission to sell vehicles on the public highway.

People can comment on the plans at oxford.gov.uk/consultation