ACTION is finally being taken to stop drivers parking beneath an underpass amidst growing concern at the extent of the problem.

Oxfordshire County Council is preparing to paint double yellow lines around the Cowley roundabout where the Garsington Road meets the Eastern Bypass Road, in an attempt to stop it being used as an informal car park.

For months residents have raised concerns that the drivers – many of whom work at the nearby Mini plant – are risking causing an accident by leaving their cars there.

People have complained of being cut up by vehicles emerging unexpectedly onto the busy roundabout – the same site where a lorry tumbled off a bridge earlier this year.

The county council's spokesman Paul Smith has now outlined how the authority intends to deal with the issue.

He said: "Parking on this roundabout is not safe and not allowed, however yellow lines need to be in place to enable us to carry out parking enforcement in this location.

"We are arranging to put down double yellow lines around the roundabout which will apply to the whole of the carriageway, including the area that is being used for parking.

"Once the lines are down our normal practice is to issue warning notices for a short period, before enforcing the restrictions through penalty charge notices."

The council has not confirmed how often it will send wardens to the location to enforce the new rules.

Up to 40 vehicles were seen parked on the site last week as more and more drivers choose to park there after seeing no action taken against others.

Mini workers have ignored repeated pleas from their bosses to use the large staff car park on the other side of the plant, preferring instead the shorter walk from the bypass.

Linda Smith, city councillor for Blackbird Leys, has repeatedly raised the issue on behalf of her constituents and said she was pleased to see the county finally taking action.

She said: “I’m delighted the County Highways Dept are finally taking action following the representations I’ve made.

“I know BMW have tried telling their workers not to park there but it seems that a tougher approach is going to be necessary to stop the roundabout being dangerously used as a mini car park.”

Spokesman for the Mini plant Steve Wrelton also welcomed the decision.