Commuters have been plunged into chaos after more than 60 vans and caravans invaded a busy Park and Ride site today.
The vehicles descended on a substantial area of the Peartree Park and Ride car park in Oxford, leaving motorists and residents furious.
More than 40 caravans appear to have been dumped haphazardly across bays blocking parking spaces for hundreds of motorists, many of whom have pre-paid up to £300 for the service.
More than 60 vans and caravans descended on a substantial area of the Peartree Park and Ride car park in Oxford
Pictures from the scene show refuse around the caravans, with a number of dogs running around the site off the lead
A council spokesman said that a lock had been ‘forcibly removed’ overnight to allow access to the site
Other spaces have been blocked by at least 20 vehicles used to tow the mobile homes.
A council spokesman said that a lock had been ‘forcibly removed’ overnight to allow access to the site.
Pictures from the scene show refuse around the caravans, with a number of dogs running around the site off the lead.
A substantial number of the 1,000 parking spaces – which cost commuters £300 a year to use – are occupied by caravans, vans or are reportedly being used as communal areas with improvised gyms.
Residents also claim travellers have blocked the lanes through the car park, preventing access to bays.
One commuter, who wanted to stay anonymous, said: ‘It’s a disgrace. I feel unsafe coming back to get my car at night.
‘The council does not seem to be doing anything about it and I won’t be using Pear Tree again until the travellers have gone.’
Jon Townsend, using Twitter, said: ‘Shocking! I parked there this morning. And I use ‘park’ very loosely! I pay up front and couldn’t find a space to park for a while resulting in me being late to work.
‘I thought these car parks that we pay for are supposed to have security to ensure this doesn’t happen!’
Twitter user Gemma Hester added: ‘What is going to be done to stop the caravans entering the park & rides in permanently? The council asks people to use them to access Oxford but with this keep happening they become intimidating, especially at 7am as a women alone. Use them for work.’
A substantial number of the 1,000 parking spaces – which cost commuters £300 a year to use – are occupied by caravans, vans or are reportedly being used as communal areas with improvised gyms
One commuter, who wanted to stay anonymous, said: ‘It’s a disgrace. I feel unsafe coming back to get my car at night’
Residents also claim travellers have blocked the lanes through the car park, preventing access to bays
Residents have taken to social media to share their anger at the caravans blocking access to several bays in the car park
A number of engines have been dumped at the scene in the busy car park, which is also littered with rubbish
A response from Oxford City Council, which administers the Peartree Park and Ride, said: ‘We will always took to improve security when an incident like this occurs however, although the site was secure, entry was gained as a lock was forcibly removed.’
A yearly pass to use the car park costs £300, while day tickets cost £2 for parking and £4.80 to use the bus into the centre of the city.
The caravans were not a new sight for those using the Park and Ride and have been spotted previously at the other locations surrounding Oxford.
An Oxford City Council spokesman said: ‘We are starting proceedings in the County Court to recover the land based on trespass. In the meantime we are sorry for any inconvenience caused to our customers.’
A yearly pass to use the car park costs £300, while day tickets cost £2 for parking and £4.80 to use the bus into the centre of the city
Jon Townsend, using Twitter, said: ‘Shocking! I parked there this morning. And I use ‘park’ very loosely! I pay up front and couldn’t find a space to park for a while resulting in me being late to work’