Oxford City Council is to have a second try at extending a Park and Ride car park after the Government threw out the original plans.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott refused planning permission for an eastward extension to the Seacourt Park and Ride, off Botley Road, following a public inquiry last November.

He said he could not allow the 350-space extension because it would intrude on the green belt.

Now the city council is hoping to extend the car park to the west instead. Unlike the original plans, the new extension would not be on green belt land - but would mean building on the site of a sports field.

The land is also owned by the Swindon and Gloucester Co-operative and could mean allowing the Co-op to build a commercial development on part of the site.

City councillors sanctioned a financial assessment of the new plans yesterday.

John Tanner, leader of the city council, said: "The most important thing is that we expand the capacity of the park and ride."

Mr Prescott had said a westward extension was a possible alternative.

Story date: Friday 30 April

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