Witney News - New signs help motorists

New signs help motorists

Finding a parking space in Witney will now be easier, thanks to new electronic direction signs installed by West Oxfordshire District Council.

Electronic signs are in place on four different approaches into Witney, directing motorists to the town’s two main free car parks, the Woolgate Centre and Marriotts Walk.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment said, “Providing free and plentiful car parking has helped to make Witney such a popular shopping destination. Making it easier for motorists to find car parking is a further boost and Witney is the first market town in Oxfordshire to have a parking guidance system. It is excellent to see the signs in place before Christmas.”

Chris Taylor, M&S Store Manager said, “They are a welcome addition driving footfall into Witney which is a great help to the town and to retailers. Congratulations to West Oxfordshire District Council for making this happen.”

The system went live this week and the signs indicate if there are spaces or if the car park is full.

In addition to electronic signs, 12 car park direction signs have been placed on lampposts at key junctions.

The Council’s new system will provide data to help with car park management planning. Data is captured by sensors at the car park entrances counting cars as they enter and leave.

Funding for signage has come from the recent Woolgate development as part of a planning condition (s.106) to provide improved traffic measures.

The electronic signs are placed on the Ducklington Lane / Station Lane / Thorney Leys junction, Curbridge Road / Deer Park, Burford Road / Deer Park junction and Bridge Street.

There are currently 1,645 FREE parking spaces in Witney managed by West Oxfordshire District Council. Town centre users are currently being consulted and the results indicate that over 82% of people rate the car parks as excellent or very good.