Residents fear safety as mopeds use park shortcut

Residents have raised fears that mopeds and motorbikes cutting through an Oxfordshire park are a threat to safety.

Locals say the vehicles, many of which are used for deliveries, routinely go through Marsh Park in Cowley, Oxford, as a shortcut.

The park is used by walkers, cyclists and young children walking to Oxford Spires Academy and Tyndale Community School.

On Thursday, Oxfordshire County Council approved the addition of a number plate recognition camera to Barracks Lane near the park to enforce existing restrictions.

One local resident said he had seen a lot of mopeds and motorbikes cutting through the footpath past the garages between Barracks Lane and Leafield Road.

He said: "I have nearly been knocked over by a delivery motorcycle cutting through illegally and I am concerned it is only a matter of time before someone is injured, especially as this is a popular cut through for children to get to the local schools."

Another resident said there had been "hostile interactions" with moped drivers.

"We regularly have to pull the children aside, as moped riders scream through the gap between homes, bollards and driveways," he said.

"Those delivery drivers are working hard, providing a service to the people of Oxford, but the shortcuts are too tempting.

"It unsafe for them, and unsafe for us."

Labour councillor for Cowley, Charlie Hicks, said mopeds and motorbikes "clearly shouldn't be allowed" to cut through the park.

"It's unpleasant and dangerous for people in the park, especially as this is an important walking route for multiple schools."

The county council was granted power to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to enforce existing road signs in 2022.

Mr Hicks said the ANPR camera due to be added would make Marsh Park "a much more pleasant place to walk."

He is calling for a second ANPR camera to be added on the same pole pointing towards another cut-through mopeds use, across the verge into the park.

In a written statement, he asked the council whether his request would be included in future proposals.

Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said officers would be interested in looking into it.

Mr Hicks and local Labour campaigner Jason Mosley cleaned the sign to discourage mopeds coming through the park after it was neglected and left covered in moss.

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