New controlled parking zone plans thrown out (except in South Oxford)

Oxfordshire County Council announced plans for new Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) across 13 areas of the city last month, including Blackbird Leys, Wolvercote, and Rose Hill and Iffley.

But only one of these new plans – for Abingdon Road – will now be taken forward.

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All the other 12 zones – aimed at stopping commuters parking on residential roads for free – were hugely unpopular with residents who took part in a consultation.

Ed Turner, Labour deputy leader of Oxford City Council, said he was not surprised the idea was unpopular, as residents in his ward of Rose Hill and Iffley did not have problems with commuter parking.

Oxford city councillor Ed Turner. Picture: Ed Nix

But a report to the council by Bill Cotton, corporate director of environment and place, said they could be still be brought back to the table at some point in future.

The report added: “The need for a CPZ in these areas will be monitored as it is recognised that displaced car parking could be a problem in the future.”

More than 17,500 letters were sent directly to Oxford residents about the CPZ plans, and more than 2,000 people responded.

In one area, Jordan Hill, 100 per cent of those who responded to the consultation were against a new CPZ there, though no breakdown of how many Jordan Hill residents took part was given.

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In Rose Hill, 79 per cent of residents who took part objected, and in Iffley 72 per cent objected.

Some 81 per cent of people objected in Greater Leys, and 74 per cent in Blackbird Leys.

Mr Turner said: "I am not at all surprised that in Rose Hill and Iffley, respondents overwhelmingly rejected proposals for a CPZ.

Areas in which the CPZs might be introduced - but the zones do not necessarily correspond with the council's current priorities. These were the priorities in 2018

“People overwhelmingly told me that there were no problems with commuter parking and so no justification for introducing a scheme with the costs that would entail. It is important that this decision is properly communicated as many people were very concerned and felt a CPZ was a done deal."

Blackbird Leys city councillor Linda Smith said: “Parking is a problem for residents on the estate, but new controlled parking zones are not the appropriate solution, and many residents were against being forced to pay for permits at this time when too many people are struggling to make ends meet already.”

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Residents from the Leys had raised fears that the permits would be expensive, and said they were not needed because their areas did not have problems with lots of commuters leaving their cars there.

However, while city council Labour members welcomed the news, Lib Dem opposition leader Andrew Gant highlighted contradictory positions in the ruling party.

In a question to the city council on Monday Mr Gant said: “In a recent document arising from the recommendations of the excellent scrutiny review group report on climate change, councillor Hayes committed this council to supporting ‘county council applications for Controlled Parking Zones’.

“However, a few days earlier, councillor Turner opposed the introduction of a CPZ in his ward. This is a rather stark public difference of opinion between two senior cabinet members (indeed, the two deputy leaders) on a key issue.”

Though the city council has no direct say over the CPZs, its councillors can communicate with the county council, which is responsible for them.

The county council’s cabinet member for transport, Yvonne Constance, is now set to throw out plans for the 12 unwanted CPZs at a meeting tomorrow.

Yvonne Constance

The council's highways officers have recommended that she drop those plans and carry out a formal consultation into the one remaining CPZ in South Oxford.

Ms Constance has previously said the council has plans to introduce the parking permit zones across all residential neighbourhoods of the city.

CPZs are already in place in 37 parts of Oxford, and have funding in nine other neighbourhoods.