DRIVERS are being urged to put a new park-and-ride to good use to avoid parking problems close to the train station in Bicester.

Residents in New Langford say their streets have become an overflow carpark for both train passengers and visitors to the nearby business park on London Road.

It follows similar problems at the end of last year when Network Rail was unable to repaint double yellow lines along the main road because cars had parked in the way.

Bicester Traffic Action Group said it has received a number of complaints on the problem including London Road, Mallards Way and Nuthatch Way.

It said the problem was "completely avoidable" because of the new park-and-ride at the junction of Vendee Drive and A41.

Amanda Terry, who lives nearby, said: "I live in New Langford and the parking problem in Mallards Way seems to be getting worse.

"The majority of the people using Mallards Way as a car park seem to work on the industrial estate but I expect some of them also use the train station.

"These people park on both sides of Mallards Way with no consideration for residents trying to get on or off the estate, the road is narrowed considerably and it is very difficult to see cars coming from the opposite direction.

"Does there have to be a serious accident before something is done?

"Perhaps the companies on the industrial estate could be contacted and asked to point out the problems they are causing to their staff.

"If there is not enough car parking staff should use the pay and display car parks or the park-and -ride."

Homeowners say motorists are causing damage to the grass verges and often do not leave enough room on the pavements for wheelchairs or prams.

The problem has also been reported in Nuthatch Way.

Resident Steve Taylor said: "The parking in Mallards Way is a small issue, a bigger issue is the parking outside houses in Nuthatch Way - which is limited at the best of times. It is used for free week long parking.

"They park for the train on a Monday then return on a Friday.

"It is also used for an overflow car park for Talisman business park and Bicester town."

BicesterTAG executive committee member Jan Harvey said: "It is not unreasonable to expect organisations at the Business Park, who attract large numbers of people to their premises, to manage their parking more responsibly especially considering potential traffic risks.

"Ideally these businesses must direct their employees to dedicated existing car parks elsewhere in town including Bicester's excellent and free park-and-ride facility."