A CONTROVERSIAL controlled parking zone (CPZ) will come into force today.

The Magdalen Road (North) zone has been set up by Oxfordshire County Council and will apply at all times.

It means only residents who have bought £50 permits will be able to park in streets between Magdalen Road and Bullingdon Road including Stanley Road, Leopold Street and Hurst Street.

Permit holders can get up to 50 visitor permits a year with the first 25 free and the next 25 costing £16.

Some time-restricted parking bays have been provided for non-residents.

The plans have been in the pipeline since 2007 for the Magdalen Road area. But it was broken into two zones because of a lack of support in what became the Magdalen Road (South) zone.

Successive consultations showed most residents in the Magdalen Road (North) area supported the zone.

The council will review plans for a south zone – which has run into opposition from many residents – in six months.