RESIDENTS hope new parking restrictions will see an end to park and ride customers using their street.

Under new measures bought in by Oxfordshire County Council, drivers will only be allowed to park in the service road on Oxford Road, Kidlington, for three hours between 10am and 2pm.

They will not be allowed to return within three hours and double yellow lines have been painted in certain areas of the road banning any parking.

Earlier this year residents had hit out at the continued absence of yellow lines on the road, claiming the outside of their homes was being abused as a free “park and ride.”

Pensioner Anthony Wharton, who has lived on the road for 40 years, said the new measures had made the area the most peaceful it has been since he moved in.

The 79-year-old, a retired Scout leader, said: “I am pleased to see them.

“When you have lorries turning in it is a bit much.

“So far so good and I have not seen so many cars about since they came in. I am happy there is marked parking for three hours whereas before they were parking all day.

“I used to go out and say give us a break and they told me to get stuffed.

“This is the best I have seen it in 40 years. Very often they came in to my drive but now at the moment they have not been coming into my drive.”

Mr Wharton added that although he gave up driving six months ago, since clear parking spaces have been painted cars no longer block his drive.

Oxfordshire County Council spokeswoman Emily Reed said the measures follow extensive consultations from council members and county councillor Maurice Billington.

She added: “Various restrictions have been put in place including double yellow lines, limited waiting and prohibition of parking early morning. “They are supported by both local parish councils.

“The response from residents to the lines being placed has been very positive.”

Mum-of-two Amy Winters, who has lived on the service road for a year, echoed the praise for the new parking measures.

The 29-year-old added: “I think it is brilliant you can get a car in and out.

“Most of the time they were parking halfway across our drive and now if my family come they can can find a space.

“The restrictions are really good for the residents.

“It is only 10am to 2pm so it stops all the park and ride customers and I am very relieved.”

Thames Valley Police reiterated, as reported in the Oxford Mail on June 10, that they will only deal with parking enforcement on the road alongside “other priorities”.

The police had been accused of using the road as its own car park.