A WESTLEA mum has hit out at parking plans on a trouble-hit West Swindon street.

Swindon Borough Council have proposed painting double yellow lines along two sides of a private road on Delta Business Park, off Welton Road.

The plans come after residents complained that cars have choked Welton Road after the arrival of Oxford Brookes University’s new health and life sciences campus last year.

However, mum-of-one Julie Archer, 48, who lives nearby, says that the new plans will have no benefit to residents.

“We’re going to have people parking outside our houses,” she said.

Julie said that students were parking along Welton Road, leaving parents unable to park to drop off their kids at a nearby nursery and a lorry forced to park in the middle of Welton Road to make its delivery.

“Oxford Brookes are trying to make out that we’ve had this problem before and we haven’t,” she said.

“It’s been worse this year, although I think somebody said that it’s going to be better soon because the students won’t be coming in as much.”

She said that visibility along the road was becoming an issue: “It’s really dangerous.”

Last month, Welton Road resident Eve Rose warned: “It’s going to take an accident to happen before something’s done.”

The parking problems were already having an effect on children in the area, mum Julie said: “We can’t let kids out to play anymore.”

She added: “When you turn off Kirtonhill Road and go on to Stoneybeck, that road is a nightmare. We’re concerned that the students are going to park outside our houses.

“We just need someone to sort out the parking.”

Her comments followed a meeting last week, where plans showing the double yellow lines proposals were handed out.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The drawings showing potential parking restrictions in Welton Road were shared with local stakeholders and residents at a recent meeting to discuss the parking issues in that particular part of Westlea.

“This was part of an informal consultation and, following comments received at the meeting, we are currently revising the proposals with a view to sharing them with the local community, including Ms Archer and any other interested residents. Once a suitable approach has been agreed a formal consultation will take place.”

A spokesman for Oxford Brookes University said: “We, along with other members of the Delta Business Park, are supportive of any measures that result in safer and more considerate parking in nearby streets.

“The university has also proposed that Swindon Borough Council further consider the redirection of local bus routes to support alternative methods of transport for users of the business park.

"We have a strong commitment to sustainable travel and actively encourages use of public transport with generous incentives for rails users and cyclists. The university has taken proactive steps to manage our car park for those who need to drive to campus, which has included reducing student parking fees by 50 per cent, and will continue to explore further opportunities."

Jim Robbins, ward councillor for Mannington and Western and Labour spokesman on transport, said: “We are determined to find the best possible solution for residents and students. I’m really pleased that Oxford Brookes and the other local businesses have been so willing to engage on this issue and I’m sure we will continue to make progress."