DOZENS of parking spaces could be lost from East Oxford if a cycle lane along Iffley Road is built, say people living in the area.

The news comes after a decision on whether to allow a controversial student accommodation block to be built on nearby St Clement’s car park was delayed by councillors.

Oxfordshire County Council wants to remove parking bays between the Plain and Bullingdon Road as part of the current work to Iffley Road.

It has proposed a 700m southbound cycle lane on the east side of the road, but there are around 40 residents, disabled and temporary parking bays along the road.

Residents and business have opposed the idea, claiming it will severely reduce parking for homeowners and people using nearby shops and restaurants.

They also claim it will speed up traffic along the road, and increase noise and vibration from large vehicles passing much closer to the houses.

Adrian Greenwood, who lives in the street, has organised a petition against the cycle path.

He said: “This will severely reduce parking spaces for local residents, which will be especially grave during the proposed redevelopment of the St Clement’s car park.

“This will inevitably incr-ease speeding vehicles in the Iffley Road.

“The removal of the parking bays which currently calm traffic and provide an effective chicane, will make cycl-ing more dangerous not less.

“Given the proposed rem-oval of the parking bays will only provide a cycle lane for a matter of a few hundred yards the overall improvement for cyclists will be minimal, yet it will also be at substantial cost to the already hard-pressed ratepayers of the borough.

“Meanwhile, the Iffley Road will be turned into a quarter-mile straight which cars, buses and lorries can power down unimpeded, with one zebra crossing in the middle.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen. I do not think people realise the council is proposing this as a permanent measure.”

A consultation on the cycle path is due to end on July 28.

County Council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said it would cost £3,000 to install the cycle lane.

He said: “Currently there is no dedicated provision for cyclists in the southbound direction on Iffley Road, and this is seen by many as a significant gap in the city’s cycle network.

“Providing a safe route for cyclists on this busy radial route fits with the council’s strategy to encourage walking and cycling.

“The parking bays between Circus Street and Bullingdon Road would be replaced with a single yellow line, which would allow motorists to park in the evenings and on Sundays.

“We believe there would be sufficient capacity for permit holders to park during the daytime in nearby side streets.

“The council does not believe there would be any significant increase in noise or vibration from vehicles using the road if the parking bays between The Plain and Bullingdon Road were replaced.”

Clinton Pugh, who is leading the campaign to save St Clement’s car park from developers, said: “I would love it if Oxford could be like Amsterdam and have proper cycle lanes.

“But for the sake of a few hundred yards extra cycle lane this will have a massively detrimental effect on local businesses in east Oxford.

“It’s like the left arm, the city council, doesn’t know what the right arm, the county council, is doing.”

For more details of the petiton, click on the link below.