THE figures we publish today that show a 10 per cent year-on-year decline in parking in Oxford city centre can hardly come as much of a surprise.

A Freedom of Information request has revealed that 26,579 fewer vehicles parked in the Westgate car park in the four months of this year when compared to the same period in 2008.

For many years, it has seemed like Oxford City Council has been doing its utmost to dissuade people from entering the city to park and shop.

A succession of car park increases by different political groups reached a head in January when parking charges increased by an average of 15 per cent.

In some cases, charges rose by almost 40 per cent.

Oxford, with all its aesthetic beauty and independent shops, is fast becoming a turn-off for those that want to drive in and shop.

Add in to the equation what seems to be unreasonable increases in bus fares and it is easy to see why towns like Witney are starting to become attractive places to visit.

Parking in the west Oxfordshire town is free and a far easier proposition.

And it’s an exciting time too, with the Marriotts Close development under way and a host of new shops on line to open soon.

In Oxford there always seems to be an excuse to ramp up prices wherever possible.

In January, the Labour-run council blamed the Icelandic banking crisis, an unexpectedly large outlay for the city’s concessionary bus fare scheme and a huge budget deficit for having to hike up parking charges.

What utter nonsense.

At a time when we should be doing all we can to support our dwindling, but richly diverse array of independent traders, we seem to be doing exactly the opposite.

Is it any wonder people are looking elsewhere?