PARKING spaces have been created in a busy estate road as part of a £500,000 council project.

The 18 spaces, including a disabled parking bay, are on grass verges at the junction of Blackbird Leys Road and Balfour Road.

It has raised kerbs, shrub beds, tree planting and bollards on adjacent grass to stop people parking there.

Bollards have also been installed in the adjacent grassed area to prevent parking in that area.

Metal grids have been used that allow the grass to come through but provide a hardstanding for cars to park on.

It is the second parking facility to be completed as part of Oxford City Council’s Great Estates project aimed at providing more off-street parking.

Spaces have also been created in Ashurst Way, Rose Hill, and five more will be completed by April 1. This will include work to start later this month at Monks Close in Blackbird Leys. A further £100m will be spent in the 12 months from April.

Council board member for housing Scott Seamons said: “This project has provided not only parking spaces for residents on Blackbird Leys Road but also improved the quality of the external environment in this area – the main entrance to the Leys.

“Alongside the new parking spaces, new hedges and trees have been planted and the remaining grass will be protected. The end result is much tidier.”

Mr Seamons added: “Through this investment we are increasing the number of purpose-designed off-street parking spaces, a move welcomed by local residents and a common request in our consultations surrounding Leys Regeneration.

“Our estates were built many decades ago when there were fewer cars.

“It’s important that we provide additional car parking spaces to meet demand and so people are not forced to park on the grass, making the area look untidy.

“We have identified a number of further areas in Blackbird Leys and across the city for additional parking, though with today’s financial pressures it will take time to deliver in all these areas.”

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said: “I think it is well done by Oxford City Council.

“It is well overdue. It will be good for the residents who park there.

“The sooner all these things are done the better to alleviate the problems.

“People would park along the road and also on a big grass verge – it was absolutely destroyed.

“The work has tidied it up.”