Cars parked in underpass 'accident waiting to happen'

CARS ‘dangerously’ parked in an underpass next to a major roundabout is an ‘accident waiting to happen’, according to concerned drivers.

Workers have been leaving their cars on land underneath the Eastern Bypass Road in Cowley - the same site where a lorry tumbled off a bridge earlier this year.

Vehicles are unexpectedly emerging from the makeshift car park onto a major junction, where the ring road intersects with the Garsington Road, and residents have called for urgent action to prevent crashes.

It is thought that among the culprits are staff at the nearby Mini plant who are also parking in surrounding residential streets and business car parks to try to save themselves a walk to work.

One Cowley resident, who asked not to be named, said: “We use this roundabout all the time. I can’t think why anyone would park there when they have a perfectly good car park on site.

“I have tried to get someone to take responsibility, but no one seems to know who owns the land and I haven’t been able to get any answers.

“Someone has to do something about it. It is an accident waiting to happen, it’s a really dangerous situation.”

The woman said she was driving around the roundabout recently when she was cut up by someone coming out from underneath the bypass.

She added: “Drivers are just pulling straight out onto the road. When you are driving along you are not ready for that, it’s completely unexpected.

“It’s annoying that they are parking in these places, but I am more concerned that someone is going to get seriously injured.

“There just seems to be an attitude they can park anywhere they like.”

Mini workers have repeatedly been told by BMW bosses that they should use the large on-site car park at the other side of the plant.

Spokesman Steve Wrelton said: “We have a large car park on site and strongly encourage our staff to use that facility before starting a shift.

“All staff will be reminded of their duty to park safely and responsibly.”

But dozens continue to flout the rules and residents have repeatedly complained that their streets are clogged up, preventing people from being able to park near their homes.

In some cases, access for emergency service and delivery vehicles has also been restricted.

A business owner based near the Mini plant said she has had to erect bollards in front of the shop to prevent access to her tiny staff car park of two spaces as previously workers had been leaving their cars there all day.

She said: “Everyone around here knows it is a big problem and it affects all the local businesses. A lot of the roads around us are chocker – anywhere there is a space is seen as fair game.

“Most of the roads are private so although they get tickets, it’s not seen as a disincentive as they never pay them.”

County Council spokesman Martin Crabtree confirmed the site should not be treated as a car park and said it would be raising the issue with BMW.

But he would not confirm whether restrictions would be enforced, in light of the concerns raised.

Linda Smith, city councillor for Blackbird Leys, one of the areas most affected by the issues, said: “I can only assume that some workers prefer to park elsewhere in the local neighbourhood in order to shave a few minutes off the walk from their car to the factory gate.

“I would urge everyone driving to work in the area to park responsibly and use their company car park where they exist.”