COUNCILLORS are set to discuss a proposition to make parking at park and ride sites free.
The motion, submitted by Oxfordshire county councillor Liam Walker, also calls for a ‘park and ride improvement plan’ to be established.
Oxfordshire County Council will mull over Mr Walker’s suggestion at the local authority’s meeting tomorrow.
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Tory councillor Mr Walker, who is the shadow cabinet member for highway management, said implementing free parking would encourage more people to use public transport.
His motion reads: “This council recognises the need to improve public transport in Oxfordshire, to reduce emissions, tackle congestion and make sure our bus services are more sustainable.
“Park and ride sites are important transport hubs in Oxfordshire, helping to reduce the need to drive into Oxford city.”
The motion then calls for a cross-party taskforce to explore the viability of making parking at park and ride sites free, and that a park and ride improvement plan be created by working with public transport providers.
Mr Walker’s motion also says that Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown be written to, so the city council can join the cross-party taskforce.
Under the previous Conservative-led administration, Mr Walker was the cabinet member for highways.
He said: “One of my biggest regrets when in charge of highways in Oxfordshire was not having the time to implement serious changes to reducing congestion in Oxfordshire.
“I did some work with the Westgate shopping centre, which was complimented with free parking at park and ride sites in 2020 over the Christmas period and in August, to support the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, and doing this seemed popular.
“This new council now has a great opportunity to implement improvements to park and ride sites, and cut costs to users to help encourage the switch to public transport and help residents keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Eddie Reeves, leader of the Conservatives at the county council, added: “Our policy to make park and rides free is a pro-business, pro-environment measure.
“This sensible step would allow people to drive into Oxford and choose where to park at a park and ride for free or in the city centre at a reasonable cost.”
Mr Walker’s motion comes as a trial for a new combined parking and bus ticket is set to be introduced.
This month, both the city and county council’s cabinets will be asked to approve the creation of the ticket for park and ride sites in and around Oxford.
If approved, drivers will be able to purchase a combined ticket at a rate of £4 for a car with only one driver, and £5 for a car with two or more people.
Currently, other than a combined £6.80 family ticket, drivers pay separately for both parking and bus travel.
If approved, the ticket trial is expected to take place from September 30 to March 31 next year.
Read more from this author
This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.
Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice
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