Investigating
Dangerous parking at junction of Merton Road with Marsh Road and Home Farm Close
Sent to Oxfordshire County Council less than a minute later
Previously reported and closed without resolution, leaving a persistent danger to road users.
Vehicles are continually parking on Merton Road, directly opposite Marsh Road, and in close proximity to Home Farm Close, in direct contravention of Highway Code rule 243.
Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council and Ambrosden Parish Council have all been made aware of the situation numerous times, yet the first three seem more interested in pushing responsibility to act onto the other two than doing anything useful!
Ambrosden Parish Council is the only body trying to deal with the situation, but its powers are limited and it is dependent on the other three to fulfil their respective responsibilities - which they seem entirely unprepared to do (see above).
Rather than prevention, perhaps we will have to wait until an accident occurs - or there is a violent confrontation between drivers - resulting in injury before the wringing of hands, accompanied by the trite, disingenuous and vacuous phrase being trotted out, “Lessons will be learned”. They never are, of course.
Like the ones before, this report will likely be closed off with no action, a damning indictment of the authorities involved.
Council ref: ENQ251058738
Updates
-
Thank you for your enquiry. This issue has been passed onto the relevant team for investigation.
-
Parish Council have confirmed they have put in a request back in July for the no parking lines so just waiting for OCC to proceed. Please could this this now be completed asap.
-
Parish Council have confirmed they have put in a request back in July for the no parking lines so just waiting for OCC to proceed. Please could this this now be completed asap.
-
Two week follow-up: While Ambrosden Parish Council’s initiative is considered/processed by Oxfordshire County Council, the situation remains that vehicles are being parked DANGEROUSLY directly opposite Marsh Road, and within 10 metres of Merton Road’s junctions with Home Farm Close and Marsh Road. Thames Valley Police should be taking immediate action on this, and the councils are requested to pressure them to do so.
-
We have contacted Thames Valley Police on numerous occasions and they say there is nothing they can do unless there are no parking lines or signs. Could OCC confirm why there is a delay in getting this processed as requested by the parish council? Once the lines are in place we can push the police to deal with the issue, if the problem persists, but not until this has been done.
-
Thank you for your prompt response and your previous actions.
Thames Valley Police appears to have changed the content of its web page at https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ police-forces/ thames-valley-police/ areas/ c/ 2019/ we-need-to-talk-about-parking/ to state the council is responsible for dealing with the vehicles parked in breach of Highway Code rule 243, although at an alternate web page (https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ contact/ af/ contact-us-beta/ contact-us/ driving-vehicles-traffic/ report-illegal-parking/ ) the inference is it is a matter for the police!
This leaves the question, if the lines are to provide the catalyst for action against the illegal parking, will Thames Valley Police expect the council to deal with it, or in accordance with their recent response to the council, will Thames Valley Police act? There are contradictory statements from the police at present.
-
We have contacted Thames Valley Police on numerous occasions and they say there is nothing they can do unless there are no parking lines or signs. Could OCC confirm why there is a delay in getting this processed as requested by the parish council? Once the lines are in place we can push the police to deal with the issue, if the problem persists, but not until this has been done.
-
I previously raised a ticket regarding this and it was closed by the council who quoted “The Council will be happy to add no parking lines, but require the request to come from the Parish Council”, which they have done. Thames Valley Police and the Council can argue over who deals with it once the lines are in place, at least we would have some ammunition to go to the police with, but currently no progress is being made. The current situation is dangerous and I would invite you to visit and try driving out of the cul de sac to appreciate how bad the situation can be.
Provide an update
Your information will only be used in accordance with our privacy policy