VILLAGERS have said a lack of parking in the city is creating “an absolute nightmare” outside their homes.

According to people in Marston, increased parking restrictions elsewhere in Oxford are forcing people to find new places to park.

And they say the village, which has no parking restrictions, is becoming a prime spot for commuters.

Parish council chairman Charlie Haynes said: “This has become a big problem for Marston residents.

“When you put parking restrictions around an area, it pushes people further and further into that area.”

Mr Haynes said the parish council wanted yellow lines painted on some of the village’s roads, but was reluctant for further restrictions to be introduced.

He said: “With residents’ parking, it is the people whp live here who have to pay for it and I’m not sure this is the right time to introduce that.

“But there are residents in the village who have seen someone park a car outside their house, get a bike out of the boot and cycle into the city.”

Mr Haynes said the worst problems were along streets like Ashlong Road, because it was so near the John Radcliffe Hospital.

He said: “It is an absolute nightmare. My wife used to work at the hospitals in Oxford and you just cannot take your car to work.

“But you have people coming from places like Abingdon, who need their cars. It’s not their fault.”

He added: “I can understand what they are doing but there needs to be major restrictions. And until something is done about it, the problem will only get worse.”

Wally Cox, from Cavendish Drive, said: “It is seriously getting worse in places like Rippington Drive and Mortimer Drive.

“On some days it is almost impassable and there will be an accident there before long because it’s getting dangerous.

“There are buses on Oxford Road that sometimes can’t get through and it’s much worse at school times, when parents are dropping off their children.”

Mr Cox said the county council had agreed to paint yellow lines on the street, but they had never materialised.

He said: “The council has dragged its feet over this – they give us promises and even put up signs saying lines would be painted. But they never were. Something has to be done before someone gets injured or worse.”