Parking's driving us round the bend

Mother-of-three Sarah Odey, 30, of nearby Chalvedon Green, Park North, says students' cars regularly block a footpath that runs close to the college.

"I have lived here since September and it's got steadily worse over the past few weeks," said Mrs Odey, who lives with bus driver husband, Jon, 37, and their children, Jessica, 10, Ryan, eight, and five-year-old Abigail.

"To begin with there were just one or two people doing it," she said.

"I know it's students from New College because I have seen them get out of their cars and walk over to the buildings first thing in the morning," she said.

"Footpaths need be free for pedestrians. Children are told that they are safe to walk along."

The full-time mum said the obstruction would also cause difficulties for parents with pushchairs and those with disabilities.

"People have to either walk across muddy grass or go on to the road when the cars are there it's just not safe," she said.

New College admitted there was a parking problem but blamed ongoing building work, which has shut part of the college car park.

Mrs Odey says students have the option of parking at the rear of the college but some are too lazy to walk the extra distance.

"It's pathetic," she said. "This morning I took a picture on my camera phone of three cars parked next to each other on the footpath.

"Parking attendants should get themselves down there they'd issue a few tickets."

In a statement, Tom Jones, New College's premises manager, said: "Owing to the building works linked to the new annexe, some parking spaces are out of action.

"However, this will be resolved within the next couple of months when the building is completed.

"We are responding to the complaints and we will try to ensure that this area is policed by our security staff to make sure that the footpath is not blocked and is not obstructed for pedestrian access.

"We are working with the students to rectify the situation."

Kevin Shoesmith