I returned home from work to find that Oxfordshire County Council's 'graffiti gang' had been out in force again.

The poor chaps were spraying unwanted white lines on the road to tell motorists where to park their cars. A day or so before, we were informed, by bright yellow signs that blocked the pathway, to remove cars.

Most, if not all, residents cooperated, but what a surprise to return home and find our 100-year-old street looking like an aircraft runway. All we needed was men in their fluorescent jackets, and we could have staged an episode of Airline.

No doubt, a few angry 'customers' will be found in the coming days, add a couple of cameras, sounds, and lights, and voila!

Residents' parking they call it. Trouble is, people have parked in the street for years without being told where to park, and without any real problems.

A big 'consultation' later, a few hundred quid wasted, a load of money in the council coffers, the world is supposedly happy.

Guess what? We have to pay a hefty price to park outside our house as well.

Residents parking - it's meant to stop 'unwanted guests' parking here.

Well, it's quiet during the day because everyone is at work, and the rule doesn't apply at night, so what a waste of time it was in the first place. What a shame that part of Oxford's history is yet again destroyed. You probably won't be surprised to learn that before the lines were dry, a company came along to fit a gas pipe - and dug the road up.

ROY PEACH William Street, Marston, Oxford