PEOPLE across Oxford are about to be consulted about controversial plans to charge car-owning housholders for parking outside their homes.

But the scheme, a policy of Conservative-run Oxfordshire County Council, has angered Labour-run Oxford City Council so much that its decision-making executive committee is to try one last attempt at forcing a rethink.

In addition to writing to County Hall, the city council will also write to all 16 county councillors representing divisions in Oxford asking them to state publicly where they stood on the issue.

The Oxford Times can disclose that no county councillor representing Oxford residents to whom we spoke is in favour of the scheme.

One, Liberal Democrat councillor for Wolvercote & Summertown Dermot Roaf, is undecided. One other, Green member for East Oxford, Larry Sanders, was unavailable for comment.

The county council wants to charge some 9,000 residents in 16 zones including Headington, Blackbird Leys, Jericho and Summertown an annual levy of £40 a permit (for up to two cars), £80 for a third and £120 for a fourth.

This would guarantee an income of at least £360,000, at a time when it is encouraging motorists from outside Oxford to park free at 600 on-street spaces in the city.

The county council has claimed Oxford's residents' parking zones ran at a loss of £123,000 last year, but Alex Hollingsworth, the leader of Oxford City Council, has denied this.

In 2004/05, the latest figures available, Oxfordshire County Council paid Control Plus £1.3m to run and enforce on-street parking in Oxford, made £1.6m from on-street parking meters and £1.1m from fines.

Mr Hollingsworth said: "The thing most likely to stop this (paying for parking permits) is complete resistance from residents and what we are trying to do is make sure the facts are in front of as many people as possible before that decision is made.

"The crucial thing is the claim the scheme runs at a loss and needs this to break even it is not true."

Consultation will last for 28 days and every household in existing and proposed zones will receive a letter detailing the plans.

Richard Dix, Oxfordshire County Council's assistant head of transport, said: "The council's policy is that residents' parking schemes cover the costs of administration and enforcement.

"Where there are such schemes in other Oxfordshire towns, charges are made for permits. Residents' parking in Oxford runs at a loss and the proposed charges are designed to make good this loss."

Sushila Dhall, the Green councillor for West Central Oxford, claimed that the Conservatives were "punishing" Oxford for not voting Tory.

She said: "Given the way the Tories have spitefully allowed out-of-town drivers free parking in our city, and given they intend to use Oxford residents' parking money to fund out-of-Oxford schemes, the Greens are against charging for residents' parking. The Conservatives are punishing Oxford for not electing any Tories."

And Roz Smith (Lib Dem, Barton & Churchill) warned that the county's approach would lead to a "residents' revolt".