Trial extended as council reaffirms free parking in Witney

West Oxfordshire District Council has been trialling permitting free long stay in Zone G of the Woolgate car park since July 2022.

Previously there was free parking for up to three hours.

Councillor Tim Sumner, cabinet member for leisure and major projects, said: “Earlier this year we surveyed the use of our car parks to look at how we can improve parking across the district.

“As a result we will be improving signage to help people reach and use our car parks and make our successful trial of free long stay in Woolgate to support people working in Witney Town Centre permanent."

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He said the council is also doing more maintenance where it is needed - "a good example being the disabled bays in the Woolgate car park which will have repair works done shortly". 

He added: “I would like to thank all the people who took part in our surveys to help us improve the already fantastic free parking offer we have here in West Oxfordshire.

"We would also like to reaffirm that we have no plans to charge for parking in our car parks.”

Over 1,100 residents responded to the council survey on usage of the 14 free car parks across the district which took place over 2023.

The survey updated the data collected in 2016 when the council published its parking strategy.

However, while it showed many car parks had a lot of capacity free car parks in the tourist hotspots of Woodstock and Burford had higher than average use.

In June pay and display bays plus permit parking was introduced in Woodstock town centre.

At the time hotels without car parks said they feared their guests and staff would not find spaces in Hensington Road which was often full of tradesmen's vehicles.

Dennis Allen, chair of Wake up to Woodstock, a non-profit association which aims to attract more visitors to the town, warned those staying for a weekend or longer could be "caught in a need to keep moving cars".

In 2021 Burford Town Council was refused planning permission to add about 150 spaces to the Guildenford car park for the second time.

Its plan to expand into a neighbouring field was refused on grounds including the effect on the Grade I-Listed St John the Baptist Church and the flood risk.

Mayor of Burford Peter Higgs said: "We are pleased that the District has confirmed its 2016 finding that Burford's car park at Guildenford is under strain.

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"Although useful data was collected during the year on levels of occupancy, a more comprehensive survey of usage is needed before a strategy for capacity expansion can be developed.

"In the meantime, the Town Council will be pressing the District to take action to increase the flood resilience of the car park and improve the lighting on the bridge accessing the car park."

West Oxfordshire District Council said further studies will be done to look at capacity and further improving parking in those towns.

The council said it will also be maintaining its enforcement action to tackle people parking poorly or misusing disabled bays.

"This aims to help make the car parks accessible and inviting for all residents and visitors," it said.