'These yellow lines are pointless'

7:00am Friday 21st November 2008

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Are these the most pointless street markings in Oxford?

These examples of stunted double-yellow lines have been spotted at locations across the city, prompting people to question the logic behind them.

The shortest lines measured by the Oxford Mail, in Wharton Road, Headington, stretched to one metre — still much shorter than a 2.7-metre-long Smart car.

Steven Johnson, who lives in the house overlooking the markings, said they sprang up last year as part of the area’s controlled-parking zone.

He said: “There was a consultation from the county council in April 2007. They asked us if we wanted double-yellow lines or a single white line in front of our driveway.

“We asked for a white line, but they came and painted double-yellows anyway. When we asked them to change it, they burned off the yellow lines in front of our driveway, but left this small section next to the residents’ parking bay.”

His son Ross said: “It’s ridiculous. I’ve always wondered if they were the shortest double-yellow lines in Oxford.

“I don’t know why they didn’t get rid of them. They don’t do anything anyway, people still park how they want around here.”

Meanwhile, in Mill Street, West Oxford, a pair of yellow lines measuring 1.47 metres appeared this week, while two metre-long examples have long existed in St Michael’s street, off Cornmarket Street.

At Mallams, the auctioneers directly opposite the lines, owner Ben Lloyd said: “I have seen people get parking tickets many times when they have strayed on to the double-yellow lines.

“I think the reasoning behind them is the disabled parking bays which are either end of our loading bay — I think they are there to keep cars away and give disabled access.

“For the last 10 years I have been communicating with the county council to try to get a double loading bay out here. It causes chaos at the moment, with people parking in disabled bays and vans in the middle of the street.”

Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for the markings, declined to give the annual cost of painting double-yellows, and said it was funded “by a range of different organisations”.

A spokesman said the short double-yellows were used to protect dropped kerbs in spots away from junctions and to keep narrow accesses free to allow residents to get cycles or wheelchairs out without being blocked by cars.

The council also said the lines were used to keep parked cars off fire hyd- rants, and to separate car parking spaces that had different time limits.

"Oxfordshire County Council is always willing to examine residents’ queries regarding any highway matter that we are involved in. We would be happy to discuss any issue that the Wharton Road family might have regarding the lines," said the spokesman.