The letter from three Liberal Democrat county councillors defending on-street parking charges for Oxford's residents (Oxford Mail, March 2) states that "the environment committee asked the executive to consider such a charge. None of us raised the issue".

Compare this with the previous statement by one of its signatories, Jean Fooks: "We are asking the executive to have a detailed look at the whole scheme" (Oxford Mail, December 12, 2003).

Not guilty? Part of her reasoning is that Oxford's 'free' parking is an anomaly.

But it is not free -- residents pay for it through their council tax.

It is an anomaly because that is the expressed wish of Oxford's residents. It is called local democracy.

Mrs Fooks says that no charges will be made before Oxford's residents have been consulted (Oxford Mail, January 14, 2004). But they have already been consulted and councillors already know the results.

Residents' parking zones are essential to the Oxford Transport Strategy in deterring people from outside the city from driving in and parking there, encouraging them instead to use public transport.

This benefits everyone, which is why it is right for it to be paid for by everyone. Yet councillors repeatedly try to sidestep this argument, preferring instead to attack their critics.

They need to remember that supporting local democracy means abiding by its results.

If they do not wish their party to be damaged in the forthcoming elections, will they state, unequivocally, that they will drop this campaign against Oxford's residents? NIGEL HISCOCK, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford