A ROAD in Oxford remains 'ownerless' despite council work to improve it.

Pullens Lane, off London Road, Headington, serves Oxford Brookes University and Headington School.

But no one - private organisation or public body - has taken responsibility for the route.

Residents claim uncontrolled on-street parking has reached dangerous levels, and the road's surface has also suffered through lack of maintenance.

After a fruitless search for an owner, Oxford City Council has stepped in to carry out minor repairs and put up 'no-parking' signs.

But long-term, Pullens Lane is set to remain in limbo.

Jock Coats, who works and lives on the Oxford Brookes campus in Pullens Lane, said the parking situation could have safety implications.

He said: "It's quite narrow for two-way traffic and since the new controlled parking went in in the Marston area it gets parked up all the way along, every day.

"I have seen an ambulance and the fire brigade get stuck down there. Sometimes bigger vehicles cannot even turn into the road because there's no room.

"There's been road rage incidents as cars come face to face. You add to that it has no pavements, so it's shared with cyclists and pedes- trians."

City and county councillor Altaf Khan said he had been trying to solve the ownership riddle for some time. The city council had agreed to carry out interim repairs and provide signs but he said that would not solve the issue.

He added: "These potholes will come back in a few years because the whole stretch needs proper surfacing.

"The pothole repairs don't look good but it's better than before with people falling into the road."

He said a long term solution would be for Oxfordshire County Council to assume responsibility.

Both Oxford Brookes and Headington School, said they would be prepared to contribute to improvements if the county council agreed to adopt the road, but the county declined to comment.