A new residents’ association is up and running in the Lye Valley area of Oxford and has made parking and student homes its first issues to tackle.

More than 40 people gathered for the inaugural meeting of the Lye Valley Residents’ Association.

Several attempts have been made to set up a residents’ group for the area, but not enough people came forward before to make forming a group worthwhile.

But after a call from pub landlord Glynn Millard and Oxford City Council ward representative Bob Timbs dozens of people arrived at the Fairview Inn in Glebelands on Wednesday night to show their enthusiasm for driving forward improvements and raising issues.

Mr Millard, who is one of eight people who has put himself forward to form a committee for the new group, said: “The main issues people were raising were about cars parking on the pavements, the state of the roads, and houses in multiple occupation.”

He said he was pleased with the initial turnout.

Mr Millard said: “I think it will help get things done.

“We had more than 40 people from the estate for the first meeting that was publicised.

“Now hopefully the information will get around a bit more and in future meetings there will be even more people and it will be of benefit to the community.

“Something like this will always be good as long as you have got people talking and getting together – I think it will be good for the estate.”

The committee is planning to meet in the next two weeks to elect officers including a chairman and secretary, while the next full meeting will be held at the Fairview Inn on Wednesday, December 7.

Mr Timbs said he would be looking into a number of the issues raised.

He said: “I can’t believe the number of people who turned up – it just shows there is a big interest for it.”

The biggest issue brought up related to houses in multiple occupation.

Mr Timbs said residents had raised concerns that in some cases, three bedroom houses were being used as homes for up to eight people.

He said that he would be liaising with the council’s environment team to investigate.