RESIDENTS in North Oxford say hot weather has created traffic chaos in their street as visitors flock to Cutteslowe Park.

Parking charges were introduced at the park two years ago – and now people are parking close to one of its entrances in Harbord Road where they can avoid paying.

A controlled parking zone for the area was agreed in March but has not yet been introduced.

The Harbord Road residents said there was severe traffic congestion in their street over the Bank Holiday weekend.

They are calling for white lines to be drawn in front of their driveways to discourage parking.

Father-of-two Tim del Nevo, 64, of Harbord Road, a former land agent for Oxford University, said: “There were problems on the Sunday but it got worse on the Monday and the street was congested from about 11am.

“Then at 3pm people started to leave the park and there was a traffic jam with drivers honking their horns.

“Some drivers parked so close to people’s driveways that residents couldn’t get out.

“My son James wanted to go rowing but he had to wait for 35 minutes for the traffic to clear.

“At the end of last year, the county council said it would trial white lines across residents’ driveways but that has not happened. White lines are not legally enforceable but they do serve as a deterrent.

“The county council agreed a controlled parking zone for the area but it hasn’t happened yet – the promise has not been fulfilled.

“We said there would be a problem if the city council introduced charging for the park.”

Pensioner Barbara Hosier, who lives with husband Alan in Harbord Road, said: “Once the sun comes out, everyone flocks to the park and, of course, they try to avoid the parking charges by parking in our road – it was so congested, it was dangerous.”

Liberal Democrat city and county councillor Jean Fooks said: “Residents in Harbord Road and surrounding streets have a real problem because of the charges at the park and something needs to be done. I don’t know why there has been a delay over painting the white lines or bringing in the controlled parking.”

In March, county council deputy leader Rodney Rose approved the controlled parking zone. This followed residents’ complaints after charges for the car park were introduced.

Under the proposals, only those with parking permits, which cost £50 per year, would be able to park in Harbord Road, Lovelace Road, Talbot Road, Hayward Road, Holt Weer Close, Priors Forge, Pennywell Drive, Sparsey Place and the lower part of Templar Road.

A permit scheme would also be introduced alongside a two-hour free parking restriction for visitors in Harefields, Kendall Crescent and parts of Templar Road.

Drivers are charged 50p to park at Cutteslowe Park for up to an hour and £1 for up to three hours.

Mr Rose was unavailable for comment.