INCREASED parking charges could “crucify” the city centre, according to traders.

The proposed two per cent increase in off-street parking fees across Oxford, and plans to put up parking charges at the park-and-ride sites run by the authority have dismayed the business community.

Graham Jones, of city traders’ group Rox, said: “I don’t know what the council is trying to achieve. Are they trying to crucify the city?

“When you have got competition from other market towns, where they have got rid of parking charges altogether, it’s going to take people away from the city.

“A lot of people are going to be very angry about this. The council doesn’t seem to be doing anything for businesses in the city at the moment.”

A one-hour stay at the Westgate car park cost £1.50 in 2005. It is now £2.40. A two per cent rise would take it to £2.45.

Plans to increase council tax have also been criticised. TaxPayers’ Alliance spokesman Robert Oxley said: “Oxford City Council should stop pretending that the answer to all its problems is to fleece taxpayers for a little more cash.

“After years of enjoying the money from inflation-busting tax rises, local authorities need to learn they have to do more with less just like families have had to. Most town halls are freezing council tax, some are even cutting it as they recognise the burden on residents. Oxford City Council should do the same.”

But council staff welcomed the continued commitment to training apprentices.

The authority has invested £50,000 a year in the programme, and from next year, that figure looks set to treble.

Recently-recruited apprentice Chantel Fairlie, who works in customer services, said: “I have grown in confidence and think that I get on well with everyone in my department.”

And human resources worker Dwayne John added: “It has been a unique experience that I don’t think I would have been able to get from anywhere else, from the support I have been offered to the responsibility that I have been given.”

The council also plans a programme called Great Estates, a £500,000 fund for areas like Barton, Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill and Wood Farm, which will focus on highways improvements in the first year.

Mr Turner said some of the money could be spent on improving grass verges in the estates, which get churned up by drivers parking on them.

Sue Holden, of the Barton Community Association, said: “I think if they put some nice trees in along the verges, the benefits would be two-fold.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Jean Fooks said her party would need a close look at the proposals before making a full comment, but questioned how much consultation was going to be carried out.

She said: “I notice they are going to consult on the rent rise and the council tax change, but they don’t seem to be consulting the general public on what the money might be spent on.”

The budget will be discussed by the council’s executive at the Town Hall on Wednesday at 5pm. If the draft is approved by the full council in January, consultation will take place before the budget is finalised at the end of February.