Residents’ concerns about a new £57m Oxford University development in Headington serve to highlight the contradictions at the heart of parking policy.
The development, if it goes ahead, will not be allowed to have any more parking than exists at the Old Road campus now.
This is all driven by the desire not to encourage any more traffic on to Oxford’s congested streets.
While the planners can restrict parking at new developments, they cannot alter the behaviour of people likely to work at this site.
Understandably, the residents fear that the scheme will lead to even more people driving around this area of the city trying to find somewhere to park. Instead of easing congestion, the restriction could lead to more of it.
The development will house important medical research facilities that we want to see in Oxford.
The planners, however, must find ways to resolve the parking situation in this quarter of the city.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here