Parking could be made free at the car park next to Oxford Ice Rink to encourage people to take more exercise.

Oxford City Council is investigating whether to waive parking charges for two-hour stays, to offer better value for money and tempt more people to take to the ice.

The council currently charges £3.50 for two hours at the Oxpens Road car park.

Parking charges for two-hour stays at the Ferry Sports Centre, in Summertown, could also be scrapped to increase use of its facilities.

The idea could cost the council up to £120,000 a year in lost revenue, according to initial calculations.

The proposals follow new parking rules introduced at Hinksey Park car park in July, with ticket machines issuing free two-hour timed tickets that need to be displayed in the vehicle.

Any cars not displaying a valid timed ticket — or vehicles overstaying the free period — get a penalty notice.

Council spokesman Chris Lee said a date for the charges had yet to be set, as cost implications of the proposals were still being calculated.

The idea will be discussed by the council's executive at a meeting at the Town Hall at 5pm tomorrow.