Wantage: Town Centre - proposed parking restrictions & residential permit parking

We're asking for your views on the proposal to introduce new & amend existing parking restrictions in central Wantage, which are being put forward following requests to review the existing parking provision & restrictions from local residents and Wantage Town Council. Specifically, the proposals comprise of the following measures:

1. New ‘Residents permit holders parking only’ (at all times) areas will be introduced on the entire length of Maryfield, and Priory Road between its junctions with Church Street & Portway - allowing only permit holders to park on the unrestricted parts of the highway.
2. Residents in specific properties (see draft order) on the following streets will be able to apply for annual Residents and Visitors` Parking Permits, and a local identifier of `WN` will be shown on road signage where restrictions apply:
   • Church Street,
   • Priory Road, and
   • Maryfield.
3. New sections of 'No Waiting at Any Time' parking restriction (Double yellow lines) & new ‘No Waiting Mon-Sat 8am-6pm’ (Single Yellow Lines) will also be introduced/amended at various locations in the area, as detailed in the public notice.

* Notes: the general operating principles that would apply for the permit scheme are outlined below:

• Resident’s permits are limited to 1 per resident, with a maximum of 2 per property,
  
• Only eligible residents may apply and proof of residency and vehicle ownership will be required on application,
• Currently, the fee for a resident’s permit is currently set at £115 per annum per permit,
• Visitors permits for residents aged 70 or over will be free of charge, for other residents the first block of 25 visitors permits will be free and the second block will be £31.50 - with a maximum of 50 per annum,
• Blue badge holders can park in permit parking areas/bays without the need to display a permit,
• A permit allows the holder to park in an area/bay designated for use with that permit. It does not allow the user to contravene other restrictions such as double yellow lines. It also does not guarantee a space directly outside a property and any marked spaces are not allocated or reserved to induvial permit holders,
• Contractors may apply for a permit to use a resident`s parking place at a charge of £20 for one day, and £33 for any period not exceeding a week, and
  
• Permits are available for registered carers and healthcare workers.

These proposals are separate to the wider 'Wantage Market Place Improvement' scheme, further details of which can be found here.

Have your say.

Please read the detailed information provided on this consultation and take the time to complete the survey as your views and opinions matter. Your response should be completed and returned by 5pm on Friday 17 July 2026.

Whilst we will endeavor to answer simple queries during the course of the consultation, any more complex questions/issues will be appraised and dealt with as part of consultation process.

What happens next?

The County Council will review the responses and if necessary (i.e. if objections are received) prepare a report to be presented to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management at a meeting scheduled for later in 2026. This will be public meeting at which members of the public may apply to speak. The agenda and reports for meetings will be made available on the Oxfordshire County Council web site about a week before the meeting (please note that occasionally it is necessary to defer reports to a later meeting, and it is therefore advisable to check the agenda ahead of attending a meeting). The Forward Plan of decisions meetings can be viewed here.