Police are planning a blitz on drivers in Kidlington High Street, writes John Chipperfield.

Five years ago, Cherwell district council spent 400,000 on an environmental improvement scheme that was intended to cut traffic and give priority to pedestrians.

But since the retirement of a traffic warden in 1998, drivers have continually flouted the regulations.

Many shoppers say they are put in danger by drivers parking on double yellow lines and on the pavement, and driving through the street.

Now after pressure from Cherwell district councillors, police have announced a clampdown. Law-breaking drivers will face a fine.

Sgt Bill Butcher, of Kidlington police, said: "We will be enforcing the prohibition notices which stop vehicles going through High Street except for loading. It is chaos there.

"A lot of motorists park on double yellow lines and on the pavement, causing obstruction when there is a free car park only yards away."

He said disabled badge drivers also could expect to be booked if they did not park properly.

Sgt Butcher said: "The design of the road implies that it is a traffic-free area and shoppers walking there don't expect to see traffic. Drivers are putting pedestrians in danger."

He said parking on both sides of the road could make it difficult for emergency vehicles to reach fires and accidents.

Police have not said when the crack down on High Street parking is set to begin.

A two-hour parking limit was recently imposed in the Curtis Place car park, the nearest to High Street, to give priority to shoppers.

But the decision was criticised by Tesco, which complained that commuters were now filling its car park next door and causing it to lose customers.