PEOPLE from more than 3,000 homes and businesses are getting their chance to back or reject parking charges in their neighbourhoods.

Oxfordshire County Council wants to establish two Controlled Parking Zones around Magdalen and Divinity Road, which would see marked bays painted on a further 31 streets and residents charged for annual parking permits.

The authority wants to introduce the £440,000 scheme, to reduce commuter parking in the areas and improve road access for emergency service vehicles.

Homes would face a £40 charge and businesses £100. If the plans are given the go-ahead, almost half of Oxford’s roads will then be subject to CPZs.

Around 560 of Oxford’s 1,200 roads are currently covered by residential parking zones, including 100 streets around the Kassam Stadium, where permits are only needed on Sundays and matchdays.

Michael Diliberto, 50, whose family have owned Giovanni’s barbers in Magdalen Road for 40 years, said: “It’s just another way of getting money out of us.

“It’s as if the council is bulldozing this through. I need parking for customers at the end of the day.”

The new proposals will allow non-residents to park for two hours in Magdalen Road. But Mr Diliberto fears all the spaces will be taken up by residents scrambling for spaces, leaving his customers nowhere to park.

Mr Diliberto said the limit of 6.30pm for non-residents would also mean he would have to scrap his two late-night openings on Mondays and Thursdays.

He said: “Most people I know are anti this, bar one or two tree-huggers who don’t want cars anywhere.”

During a second informal consultation in February, 20 per cent of residents responded, with 43 per cent of those in favour of the proposed road layouts in the Divinity Road Area and 53 per cent in favour in the Magdalen Road area.

The new proposals provide space for 829 cars in the Divinity Road area, 151 fewer than the informal consultation and 1,645 in the Magdalen Road area, 91 fewer than the informal consultation.

Hill Top Road Residents’ Association chairman Laura Elliott said: “People have consultation fatigue.

“We have been asked our views before, but they don’t seem to have taken the details on board.

“We aim to speak to our residents and the council in detail to get a better solution.”

Ian Hudspeth, the council’s cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “There seems broad support for a scheme, but I urge everyone to use the consultation to write with views and concerns.

“The decision on the CPZs has yet to be taken.”

Residents have until Thursday, July 9 to respond, using the questionnaire and freepost envelope they should have received. Anyone with queries should call 0800 731 5189. Full details are at Oxford Central Library, Cowley Library and the County Council offices at Speedwell House.