'It's the end of the road'

Dennis Pratley, 61, believes the controlled parking zone (CPZ) in Hertford Street will prevent customers parking nearby and will “decimate” other businesses in the area.

Last night he branded Oxfordshire County Council “ignorant” and accused the authority of having no idea about the needs of people in and around Magdalen Road.

Meanwhile, the Samaritans, based in Magdalen Road, warned they now faced closure – a move staff claimed could lead suicide rates in the city to “soar”.

Councillors Ian Hudspeth and Rodney Rose rubber-stamped the proposals for the Magdalen Road area at a packed meeting in County Hall earlier this week.

A CPZ was also approved for Divinity Road, but roads in Iffley Fields were dropped from the scheme.

Mr Pratley, of Littlemore, has cut the hair of two Archbishops of Canterbury, George Carey and Michael Ramsey.

He said: “I’m at my wit’s end. I don’t know what to do – I can’t sleep at night at the moment. This shop is my life and I face losing it. It’s devastating. I know what will happen because I’ve seen it before – customers will slowly stop coming because they can’t park, and businesses will be decimated.”

He said the council had not listened to the worries of business owners.

He added: “This is my area which I know inside out and I kept telling them this is wrong. Why haven’t they listened?”

“My clients come from all over the county. Some are young, others are elderly, but all will be put off coming now. The council says they can get a bus, but that’s rubbish.

“I’ve worked so hard for my entire professional career to make this salon a success. Now it looks like it could all be taken away from me.”

Meanwhile, the Samaritans warned thousands of people around the county could potentially be at risk.

The centre has more than 150 volunteers who field 40,000 calls each year, while about 400 people who need help drop in to the centre.

Former director Clive Cowen spoke at the meeting on behalf of the charity.

Afterwards he said: “This is a diabolical decision for us and there is now a very great threat we will close.

“Visitors, volunteers and staff will no longer be able to park outside. How are we meant to deal with that?

“There is no doubt in my mind that suicide rates across Oxford will soar because there will no longer be a last resort for some very desperate people.

“People who phone us are at the very brink and have no-one else left to talk to.

“They are are in sometimes unbelievably tragic situations and are often suicidal. Without Samaritan volunteers at the other end of the phone, who knows what will happen?”

Branch chairman Ellie Dommett said she was looking forward to further consultation with officers.

She said: “We have no real problem with the council, who have been very helpful in many respects.

“We are not against a CPZ in theory, it’s just aspects of this one which worry us.”

Council spokesman Paul Smith said there had been three consultations with residents and businesses and added permits in Oxford will be cheaper than other cities around Britain.

Mr Hudspeth, the council’s cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “As a medieval city, Oxford was never designed to cope with the number of vehicles on its streets in terms of both driving and parking. The fact so many places across England use CPZs as the solution says an awful lot.

“They are not an instant cure, but they make an important contribution to reducing congestion, as well as protecting parking spaces for residents.

“I hope residents in the Magdalen Road area will enjoy the benefits of being in a CPZ alongside fellow residents across the city. We have heard the message from Iffley Fields and we now propose that this area should not be included. We will reconsult to make absolutely sure that we are being given the correct impression.”

A permit will cost £40 and each homeowner will get 50 free visitor permits. Many of the spaces will be shared between residents and businesses, but if you don’t have a permit then your stay will be restricted. Details are yet to be thrashed out.

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk Former director Clive Cowen spoke at the meeting on behalf of the charity.

Afterwards he said: “This is a diabolical decision for us and there is now a very great threat we will close.

“Visitors, volunteers and staff will no longer be able to park outside. How are we meant to deal with that?

“There is no doubt in my mind that suicide rates across Oxford will soar because there will no longer be a last resort for some very desperate people.

“People who phone us are at the very brink and have no-one else left to talk to.

“They are in sometimes unbelievably tragic situations and often suicidal.

“Without Samaritan volunteers at the other end of the phone, who knows what will happen?”

Branch chairman Ellie Dommett said she was looking forward to further consultation with officers.

She said: “We have no real problem with the council, who have been very helpful in many respects.

“We are not against a CPZ in theory, it’s just aspects of this one which worry us.”

Council spokesman Paul Smith said there had been three consultations with residents and businesses and added permits in Oxford would be cheaper than other cities around Britain.

Mr Hudspeth, the council’s cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, said: “As a medieval city, Oxford was never designed to cope with the number of vehicles on its streets in terms of both driving and parking. The fact so many places across England use CPZs as the solution says an awful lot.

“They are not an instant cure, but they make an important contribution to reducing congestion, as well as protecting parking spaces for residents.

“I hope residents in the Magdalen Road area will enjoy the benefits of being in a CPZ alongside fellow residents across the city. We have heard the message from Iffley Fields and we now propose that this area should not be included. We will re-consult to make absolutely sure that we are being given the correct impression.”

A permit will cost £40 and each homeowner will get 50 free visitor permits. Many of the spaces will be shared between residents and businesses, but if you don’t have a permit your stay will be restricted. Details are yet to be thrashed out.

dhearn@oxfordmail.co.uk