AN INCREASE of £10 in annual resident parking scheme fees in Oxford has prompted calls for a city-wide review.

The inflation-busting rise has been defended by Oxfordshire County Council, which said it was partly to prevent a deficit in the scheme of more than £94,000.

But Roz Smith, Liberal Democrat councillor for Headington and Quarry, said there were areas not being properly enforced that should be taken out of the restricted parking zones.

And Labour’s county councillor for the Leys, Steve Curran, has also raised concerns that the fee increase would put pressure on residents on lower incomes.

They both suggested that the council dip into the surplus it made from on-street parking – about £1,655,390 – to reduce the rise.

David Nimmo Smith, the Conservative cabinet member for environment, approved the proposed rise however and said controlled parking zones prevented “free for alls” in residential streets.

He said: “It is important to remember that the reason we have these zones is to allow residents to park on their own streets.

“As part of our new transport plan, we would like to see more of them across the city to respond to concerns raised by residents about commuters parking in their areas.”

Resident parking permits in the city at present cost £50, with permits for a third vehicle costing £100 and all further permits £150.

But a traffic order allows an increase in charges every three years in line with the Retail Prices Index without consultation, which would increase the current fee to about £57 for the first and second cars, £114 for third cars and £161 for more.

The council has proposed “rounding up” this figure to £60, to help reduce the scheme’s deficit.

Speaking at a meeting yesterday, Mr Curran told Mr Smith: “There are a lot of people on low incomes on the estates in Oxford who may find it difficult to find this extra money just to park their cars..”

And Mrs Smith added: “There is a need for these parking zones in areas of Headington near the university or the hospitals, where there is pressure on spaces.

“But I would question the monitoring of the zones, particularly the costs of repainting lines on the road or replacing signs that are needed for enforcement.”

In Abingdon residents’ parking scheme fees will be increased, for the first time since their introduction in 1994, from £100 to £120.

The cost of a visitor permit will increase to 50p a day.

“Pay and display” on-street parking in the town will cost 50p for an hour and 80p for two hours.