Plans to introduce residents' parking zones across East Oxford in stages have been branded as "madness".

The results of a feasibility study on whether to charge people to park outside their homes in parts of East Oxford, Wood Farm, Marston and Lye Valley have been published.

But Oxfordshire County Council is only recommending parking controls in the Divinity Road area this year, with the Magdalen Road area and Cowley Road East area phased in between 2009 and 2011.

Abi Johnson, of Hurst Street Residents' Association, which falls in the Magdalen Road area, said: "It would be madness.

"We would become a car park for Divinity Road and we already have very serious issues because of overspill from the East Oxford zone.

"Instead of thinking of this as three zones, they should look at the whole area and come up with a solution which fits in with their budget. It seems very short-sighted to do it one little bit at a time. This might make life lovely for people in Divinity Road, but it's going to create hell for people in our area and Iffley Fields."

The council estimates the scheme will cost £135,000, with the Magdalen Road zone set to cost £230,000 and Cowley Road East a further £165,000.

An Iffley Fields zone was considered, but the boundaries were redrawn with part of that zone added to the Magdalen Road area, Divinity Road area shrunk and a Cowley Road East area created.

Council transport cabinet member Ian Hudspeth will decide on the recommendations and there will be consultation on the details before the budget is set on Tuesday, March 18.

Mari Girling, chairman of Iffley Fields Residents' Association, said: "They need to bite the bullet and do a proper consultation on the whole area."

David Barton, of Iffley Road Area Residents' Association, said: "I doubt if they can just do the Divinity Road area on its own and I share the concerns about the knock-on effect."

Lynne Trenery, transport spokesman for the Divinity Road Area Residents' Association, said: "Until they address the issue of student parking in our area no scheme is feasible.

"We heard that other residents' associations were promised it would be a solution, but a year down the line they can't park near their houses and are effectively paying for a service that the council is unable to deliver."

Mr Hudspeth said: "It's about having the capacity to do the job thoroughly and also the finance.

"We will try and roll the other areas out as quickly as possible depending on the constraints of the budget and the capacity."