Young ice hockey players have challenged Oxford councillors to lug their weighty kit on a park-and-ride journey in a bid to end “outrageous” car-parking charges at the city’s ice rink.

The Oxford City Ice Hockey Club has invited all 48 councillors to join them at Seacourt park-and-ride, in Botley, for a journey to the Oxpens Road ice rink.

The club said its members had been told by the council to use the bus service to avoid parking charges at Oxpens, but with players – some as young as five – needing an average of 14kg of kit, they felt it was impractical.

They said the alternative, which meant paying at least £2.90 a time to park next to the ice rink following a recent rise, was just too expensive over the course of a season.

Car parking at all other council-run leisure facilities – except Ferry Sports Centre in Summertown – is free.

The club has been using the ice rink for 25 years and has more than 70 members under the age of 18.

They train a minimum of 48 times a year and play an average of 18 games annually at the ice rink.

The club complained the cost of parking each year was at least £308.40 per member and could be more than £400 for players needing longer training sessions.

They also pointed out the nearest park-and-ride stop to the ice rink was the train station, half a mile away.

Parking charges at the ice rink rose in September 2007 and were increased again by up to 32 per cent two months ago.

Club chairman Elaine Sutcliffe said: “It’s outrageous that our sport is being penalised in this way. The recent rise has meant that, for some, car-parking costs are now more than the club’s subscription fees.

“Having been fobbed off for 18 months or more, the future of the club is in jeopardy if the current charges continue.

“Enough is enough. The junior skaters at the club are setting the very best example of what young people can achieve, and yet the councillors expect them and their parents to make an impossible journey in order to avoid these unreasonable costs.

“All we are asking the council to do is provide the same car-parking facilities that most other sports facilities enjoy in the city.

“We hope that be joining us they will see how ludicrous this situation is and provide our sport with free or discounted parking.”

Invitations to councillors to join the team at the Seacourt car park on Wednesday were sent out last month, but only eight had replied by the time the Oxford Mail went to print, and none of them had agreed to take up the challenge.

Mrs Sutcliffe added: “The car-parking charges also have a very big impact on visiting teams.

“Once they have had to pay to park they often don’t spend £2 on a programme, which is one our main ways of raising funds.”

A spokesman for Oxford City Council said: “We are looking at implementing a pass scheme for clubs that regularly use the ice rink.

“Details will have to be negotiated with the clubs. We are about to start that process.”