Concern over car park plan - Next to Banbury DO

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RESIDENTS fear traffic congestion will be a major problem in Grimsbury if plans to build a new multi-storey car park at Banbury railway station go ahead.

Chiltern Railways has submitted an application to Cherwell District Council for a new car park next to the Royal Mail sorting office in Merton Street which would cost £10 million and create an extra 707 car parking spaces.

The company held a public meeting at Banbury Town Hall last Thursday to show residents its plans.

Helen Bacon of Marshall Road, which is next to the proposed site, was made aware of the application by posters put up in her block of flats. She said: “I went to the meeting last Thursday with a lot of questions that I wanted to ask, but I don’t think they represented our concerns as residents.

“It is the effect it will have on traffic. There are a lot of people in Marshall Road that work in the west of Banbury so it is going to have a big impact on everyone here, I don’t think they have looked at the bigger picture.

“Anyone looking to move away is going to find it really difficult as the value of the properties will go down. We live on the first floor and will be able to see the car park from our window.”

A number of residents living close to the proposed site in streets including Marshall Road, Alma Road and Merton Street attended the meeting to see the plans and a petition against the proposal has now been set up.

Councillors Ann Bonner and Margaret Cullip, who represent the Grimsbury and Castle ward, believe that despite the need for additional parking in the town, the cons outweight the pros.

Mrs Bonner said: “While I am for additional parking and really pleased that Chiltern Railways are reducing times to London Marylebone to 50 minutes, my request is that they rethink where they are looking to build it.

“The area has two brilliant schools and on the Cattle Market development there are hundreds of residents who only have one way out of that road – traffic will be a big issue.”

Mrs Cullip added: “Car parking is desperately needed in the town but it is the traffic that will be the main problem, both coming in and out of the Merton Street junction.

“There are lots of cars that park along Merton Street and nearby roads early in the morning and are left until late at night.”

Raj Singh, owner of the Londis store in Middleton Road has also given his view on the application. He said: “I can see the good and bad side of the application and it will certainly make it easier for people to park their cars and stop the amount of cars that park along the roads. But I can see that the road will get really busy, especially at rush hour. There are lots of families with children that live around the area so the increased amount of cars could be a problem in keeping them safe.”

Jennifer Payne, customer service director at Chiltern Railways said: “We were pleased to see such a healthy turnout at the meeting with many local residents interested in finding out more about the plans for the station car park. We are currently reviewing all of their feedback.”