DELIGHTED Oxenholme residents have welcomed plans for a significant expansion of parking facilities for rail travellers which they hope will relieve the headache of parked cars clogging the village.

Residents have faced growing problems with commuters leaving cars outside their homes, sometimes for weeks on end.

But plans have been submitted to more than double the number of spaces at the existing car park at Oxenholme House from 40 to 96 spaces.

And in addition, a separate plan has been lodged with South Lakeland District Council for a new car park on land near the north end of the railway station, which would create 20 more spaces.

"We are delighted at the news and would like to offer our total support to the plan," said Oxenholme Village Residents' Group secretary Steve Warner.

"If more spaces are available for people to park, less people will park in spaces needed by residents."

Mr Warner went on to describe the severe difficulties Oxenholme residents have experienced with rail commuters using the station which serves the busy West Coast Main Line.

"Some residents have even converted their front gardens into useable parking space at their own cost as they have been unable to park near their homes," he said.

Mr Warner said there were numerous instances of rail passengers leaving their cars in the village for days and even weeks as they took a train to Manchester Airport for trips abroad.

And he added that not only is there a shortage of spaces, but the cost of parking, which is £12 a day on weekdays at the Virgin Trains car park adjacent to the station, prompted many drivers to seek spaces in the village to avoid these charges.

"Some rail passengers even knowingly leave their cars in spaces specified for residents, aware they will get fined but saying the fine will be less than the charges they pay at the car park," said Mr Warner.

"And the village shop has been forced to apply for two short stay spaces as cars were parked outside all day, preventing customers using the shop and post office."

He added that a further source of annoyance for residents and commuters alike was the fact that signs at the Virgin Trains car park often indicated that it was 'full' but there were a number of empty spaces visible.

Mr Warner explained the group suspected this resulted from commuters pre-booking spaces online on expenses then deciding not to travel, therefore preventing the space being used by other rail users who often then parked in the village.

The Oxenholme House proposal seeks an extension to the existing car park at that site, which has proved particularly popular as charges, which stand at £8 per day on weekdays and £4 at weekends, are significantly cheaper than the official station car park.

More than 100 comments in favour of the proposal have been submitted to SLDC.

"Well needed as parking in Oxenholme is getting stupid," read a comment from Kelly Pickthall. "Having to walk with my one-year-old halfway up the street because I can't get parked outside my house."

Tom Shepherd, who owns the land at Oxenholme House and has submitted the latest application, pointed out that not only was the facility sorely needed but that it would be provided at no financial burden to Oxenholme villagers.

"We will be extending the car park at our own expense and at no cost to the taxpayer, so we are hoping it will be supported," he said.

The second proposal, by Simon Temple, would offer further relief for the clogged village by the creation of a new 20 space car park on land close to an electricity substation and mobile phone mast.

Mr Temple told the Gazette: "The intention is that these car park spaces will be let out on a long term contractual basis, probably quarterly and not on a daily or hourly basis. It is intended for those who use the station every day and there will be no provision for casual use.

"In addition, although this is still subject to negotiation with Network Rail and Virgin Trains, it is hoped that there will be direct access from the new car park onto the Station Platform. Not only will this make the new car park more convenient for its users it will also aid safety as it will reduce the number of pedestrians using the narrow station approach road, which has no footpath."

However, there are concerns among local residents over the proposed main access to the site for vehicles, which is via High Park Lane, a narrow thoroughfare leading to residential properties and a caravan site.

Objectors have also expressed worries over congestion resulting in view of the narrowness of the lane and also over increased traffic entering High Park Lane via a junction with the busy B6254.