A PROPOSAL to introduce parking restrictions to prevent ‘danger’ and ‘obstruction’ on St Georges Road in Wallingford has been objected to by the town council.

Oxfordshire County Council wanted views on the proposals to introduce additional parking restrictions on the western side of St Georges Road, adjacent to the playing field opposite house numbers eight and 10.

The proposal was put forward in response to the construction of a new car park and access road to the adjacent playing fields.

Specifically the proposals comprise of extending the existing double yellow lines on St Georges Road by a further 36 metres northwards to a point of 77 metres north of Millington Road.

The proposed restrictions will also replace the current unrestricted parking in the layby, which will be removed as part of the development.

The County Council has explained on a public consultation page on its website that the plans have been proposed to create ‘safe entry’ at the new access and to minimise ‘danger and obstruction’.

In a Wallingford Town Council planning meeting on Monday evening these proposals were objected to and unanimously voted against.

In the planning meeting councillors objected to the new parking restrictions because the proposed restrictions would leave the local football club with nowhere to park.

Councillor Ros Lester said: “I was very concerned at the lack of the parking bay as they are taking away the layby which is predominantly used on a Saturday and Sunday when the Crowmarsh Boys are there."

She added: “ Last week we established we do not think they are going to have use of the car park at the weekend in St Georges Road so I do not see why they should take the layby away, I think it is very valuable.”

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Councillor Deborah Whelan called the proposed restrictions “irritating” and suggested the town council object to the plans because the plans take away something that is “useful”.

She said: “It seems rather irritating that they are removing something we have already got whilst replacing it with something we are not allowed to use.”

“Why would we remove something which we know is useful when they are not replacing it or giving access to the car park for other people.

“We know there is going to be an increase in demand in the area as the work on the Bull Croft improves things.”

The council’s planning committee objected on the basis that the plans will be removing something that the public currently enjoys and not replacing it with anything on the basis they are not allowed to use the new car park.

Members of the public can make objections and proposals on the plans via the online consultation on the County Council website until February 12.