I hear tell that it was back in 2001 that Headington West Residents Parking Zone was introduced – before I was a councillor and when Oxford United still graced Headington with its presence. At the time, it was said that the Zone would be reviewed a few months after its introduction: eight years on, and the review is now about to happen!

So we are clear: ‘Headington West’ covers the north end of Headley Way (Franklin, Woodlands, Staunton, Sandfield etc), and the south side of London Road, from Brookside up to (but NOT including) Lime Walk. It also includes, outside Headington Ward, Highfield Avenue, Little Oxford and the Valentia Road estate.

The County are sending out today a consultation questionnaire on what you would like to see in the Zone. Obviously, the big issue is the timing — the times at present still reflect football match times, long after the United ground has become the Manor Hospital. But there will also be local issues in your own street that you will want to mention — introducing or removing a disabled bay, say, or changing the balance of parking between residents and visitor. Ruth and I do know some of those but the real experts are you, the residents yourselves. So, please do respond to the consultation — the County have set a deadline of 8th January.

What the County is not including in this consultation is the issue of enforcement. I realise that this is a problem for many residents and is needed, for instance, to combat dangerous parking around school drop-off and pick-up times. We will be interested to hear any issues you have about this so that we can encourage the powers that be to deal with them. Please do drop us a line.