For years now, drivers have been left scratching their heads, baffled by the confusing, conflicting and contradictory approach to traffic management in Oxford.

On the one hand, we are told it is a vehicle-friendly city where shoppers arriving by car are welcomed.

But on the other, people are banned from driving along the High Street and those living here have to cough up to park outside their own homes.

Confused? You ought to be.

Oxfordshire County Council - the authority that has encouraged thousands of motorists to drive into the city by scrapping on-street parking charges - is making a mind-boggling £123-an-hour fining drivers in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Using sneaky spy cameras, County Hall made £665,000 in 224 days between March 27 last year and April 8 from those who drove illegally through bus gates.

However, the authority is still unable to say what this money will be spent on - or when it is likely to see the light of day.

It is easy to see why many people - notably city centre traders, some of whom have seen takings dip by 40 per cent since the scheme started - get worked up the council.

This is a highways authority that wants to take control of all five park-and-rides and scrap parking charges at each, has encouraged motorists to drive into the city and park for free during the week, but which continues with its controversial paid-for parking permit scheme, against the wishes of the majority.

And then we have a city council that hikes up its parking charges, discouraging shoppers.

All this would be funny, if it wasn't true.

Meanwhile, Botley, Abingdon, Woodstock and Banbury roads all grind to a halt on a daily basis.

So, transport planners, why not go the whole hog and introduce a city congestion charge?