The first changes to car parking tariffs in Oxford city centre since 2001 could see charges increased by 15 per cent.

The city council wants to encourage car owners to use alternative means of transport, reduce congestion and discourage long-term parking in the city and is set to agree the proposal on May 9.

Increases will be rounded up to the nearest 10p and changes will be made to the type of coins used for ticket machines in a bid to make using car parks easier.

Hikes will affect the city council-run Westgate, Worcester Street, Oxpens, Abbey Place and Gloucester Green underground car parks and could generate an extra £536,000 a year.

The move by the Labour-run city council comes at a time when the Conservative-led Oxfordshire County Council is pledging to provide free on-street parking after 6pm from Monday to Saturday -- and all day on Sunday -- a move which the city council opposes.

The current evening charge of £1.50 would be waived at more than 600 car parking spaces across the city in prime locations like St Giles, potentially costing County Hall £1,000 a night.

The Tories have also vowed to scrap charging at Water Eaton and Thornhill park-and-rides.

Labour city council leader Alex Hollingsworth said: "The assumption is a rise in the car parking charge will raise additional resources and we make no apology for that because it will be reinvested in a wide range of council services."

There was a mixed reaction to the proposed hikes from motorists in Oxford yesterday.

Bernard Randell, 61, of Radley Road, Abingdon, said: "I think this is a good idea because it might deter some drivers from using the car parks and then there would be more spaces available."

Sharon Chong, 28, from Chalgrove, described the proposed increase as "quite steep", and Marcus Hyde, 26, also from Chalgrove, added: "A 15 per cent increase is too much.

"Oxford has a good selection of shops but the parking charges are killing the trade."

Jonathan Berry, 26, store manager of Holland & Barrett health food store in the Westgate shopping centre, said: "Once people have paid for parking they won't have any money left to spend shopping."

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