RESIDENTS on a West Oxfordshire street will be banned from parking outside their own homes unless an ‘atrocious’ parking decision is reversed.

Earlier this month, homeowners on Nine Acres Lane, Charlbury, awoke to a notice from Network Rail saying a layby on the road would be used by rail replacement buses for eight days from July 23.

Since then, the company has not responded to residents’ pleas to change the order, despite some needing easy access parking due to illness or old age.

With the notice coming into effect in just five days, disgruntled residents have enlisted the help of West Oxfordshire district councillor for Charlbury and Finstock Andy Graham.

He said: “These eight days are really going to affect some residents who cant get anywhere without having easy access to their cars.

“It’s atrocious that they haven’t been offered an alternative.”

Almost 20 people will be forced to park elsewhere under the order, which cordons off the layby for shuttle buses while Network Rail carries out work in the area.

Residents were left frustrated when suggestions to cordon off only one section of the layby, which doubles up as a bus stop, fell on deaf ears.

Phillip Cowdrey runs a dog-walking service from his home on Nine Acres Lane and claimed the issue could have been easily avoided.

He said: “There are residents who need carers to park in front of the house, one has a lung condition and can’t walk far.

“They need to be able to park nearby.

“We’ve got a grass area at the front of our building, so if they had communicated with us we could have told them they could get 12 cars onto the grass easily and they could have the layby.

“It shows the little guy doesn’t get what he wants.”

Mr Graham agreed the replacement buses should only use part of the layby and criticised Network Rail’s handling of the situation.

He said: “When you consult people you don’t just tell them it’s going to be closed.

“I think the idea of taking the whole layby is totally unnecessary.

“They’ve shown a lack of thought for residents and that’s just not how you deal with this kind of thing.”

Network Rail did not respond to a request for comment.