ANOTHER row has broken out between Oxford city and Oxfordshire county councils - this time over the running of park-and-ride sites.

Today, city councillors refused to hand over the running of its three car parks until they are given more control over traffic management.

They had been due to approve the transfer of Redbridge, Seacourt and Pear Tree car parks to County Hall in a move that would have brought the sites into line.

Confusion reigns over park-and-ride facilities, with the city council charging £1 for parking but the county council levying no charge at its Thornhill and Water Eaton sites.

It had been tentatively agreed that parking at all five sites would be free of charge.

The city says the transfer offer has been taken off the table until the county relinquishes control of some traffic management matters.

City council leader John Goddard said a revised report would focus on a "sensible new period of consensus between city and county regarding traffic management in the city".

Jean Fooks, executive member for a cleaner city, added: "We want to have a joint city/county traffic management arrangement - at the moment the county takes all the decisions.

"We would like a joint committee to be set up so that the city has some say in traffic decisions affecting Oxford.

"For example, money generated by the bus gates in Oxford - the city should have a say on how that money is spent."

It has emerged that £665,000 - about £123 an hour - was raised in the past 12 months following the installation of camera enforcement in the High Street and other parts of the city centre.

Town Hall councillors have long been angered by the fact decisions about Oxford are taken by county members - most of whom do not live in the city.

Last year, the city made a bid for unitary status - a bid that would have seen it take responsibility for all services in Oxford.

Parking fees at park-and-rides generate about £700,000 a year for the city council, and the authority is asking the county for £250,000 a year over the next ten years, if the deal goes ahead.

Meanwhile, County Hall is planning to expand the size of park-and-ride sites and introduce facilities such as coffee bars and newsagents.

County councillor Ian Hudspeth, cabinet member for transport implementation, expressed disappointment at the city council's action over the park-and-ride deal.

He added: "Improving the park-and-rides will have so many benefits for the residents of Oxford and Oxfordshire - and anything that could hamper that would be wrong."