NEW parking restrictions in Oxford have been hailed a success after a campaign to improve traffic flow in Blackbird Leys.

The new measures, which stop people parking in Sandy Lane between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, were introduced in January.

Residents who called for action said they had endured years of misery and congestion caused by commuters parking in the area.

But now single yellow lines, which ban daytime parking, have been put in place.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said the yellow lines had made all the difference.

He said: “I was down there the other day and it’s much better.

“They used to parkcars all the way up one side of the road.”

Mr Roper said it was mainly workers at the BMW’s Mini plant in Cowley who had been at fault.

He said: “It was the guys on late shift at BMW who were parking there, sometimes all night, so when residents got back from work, they had nowhere to park.

“It was difficult, because it became single-lane traffic all the way down there, and if you got caught halfway down, you could get stuck.”

Sandy Lane resident Margaret Howard said: “It’s a lot better. It’s a lot easier to go up and down the road now.”

The yellow lines in Sandy Lane were paid for with area stewardship funding given to county councillors Val Smith and Richard Stevens.

The funds also paid for restrictions in Grenoble Road, Greater Leys, and Peat Moors, in Lye Valley.

Mr Stevens is no longer on the council, but Mrs Smith said she was pleased with the results.

She said: “The work on Sandy Lane was paid for with county council area stewardship money that Richard Stevens and I got when we were county councillors for the Leys and Lye division.

“We spent it on Sandy Lane, Grenoble Road and Peat Moors. We are delighted how much better things are for residents and everyone on the Leys who uses Sandy Lane.

“It’s not perfect, but most people have said has made a big difference.”

BMW spokesman Rebecca Baxter said: “As a large employer we are mindful of minimising any disruption to our neighbours and provide extensive parking on site for our employees.

“We are unaware of any issues with parking in Sandy Lane.”

Oxfordshire County Council declined to comment on the issue.