Oxted station car park closure causes parking chaos for commuters

Oxted car park shut after ceiling damage as parking pressure grows

Oxted station car park closure causes parking chaos for commuters The closure of Oxted station car park in Surrey is causing major parking problems for commuters, rail users and visitors, with a councillor describing the situation as “complete chaos”. The 366-space car park was closed after damage was discovered to its ceiling on Wednesday evening, removing a significant amount of parking from the busy town. Commuters displaced as parking pressure grows Surrey County Councillor Cameron McIntosh said the closure was having an immediate and noticeable impact on surrounding roads. According to McIntosh, commuter vehicles were being displaced into nearby residential areas, increasing congestion and putting additional pressure on local parking. The councillor also said local businesses were being affected by the loss of parking provision, while residents had raised concerns about traffic management around the station. McIntosh questioned why the situation had reached this point, saying concerns about the structure of the station car park had existed for some time. He also criticised the lack of advance warning for drivers approaching the area, saying there did not appear to be meaningful signage on the A25 indicating that the station car park was closed. The lack of warning was described as contributing to confusion and unnecessary vehicle movements in an area that is already busy. Southern Rail has apologised to commuters and other people affected by the closure and said it was working with all parties involved to understand the issues. The rail operator has not yet confirmed how long the car park will remain closed, stressing that safety is its first priority. Morrisons, which leases the car park from Network Rail, said its Oxted store car park remains open as usual while essential maintenance is carried out. Southern Rail has also introduced alternative arrangements for station car park season ticket holders during the closure. Existing permits can be used at Caterham, East Grinstead and Lingfield stations, with Southern Rail confirming that rail tickets will also be valid when travelling from those stations. The closure is therefore affecting more than just access to the station car park, with displaced vehicles increasing parking pressure on surrounding residential streets and adding to concerns about congestion. For drivers planning to travel from Oxted station, the alternative station arrangements provide another option while the 366-space facility remains unavailable. However, the length of the closure is currently unclear, meaning commuters and other visitors will need to take account of the ongoing disruption when planning journeys.