Plans for parking permits for Oxford residents have been labelled a "stealth tax".

Oxford City Council has unanimously agreed to oppose plans to force thousands of residents and motorists living in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys to buy £10 permits.

Homes in Littlemore, Blackbird Leys, Minchery Farm and Frys Hill and Brake Hill in Greater Leys will be forced to pay for parking permits on events days at the Kassam Stadium if the proposals get the go-ahead.

At the full council meeting on Monday night, the council criticised Oxfordshire County Council's parking plans for the estate as unfair and unjust- ifiable.

The county council is currently consulting residents living in the permit zones who, since the Kassam Stadium was built four years ago, have not been charged to park outside their homes.

The cost of the permit would fund the cost of changing the warning signs in the permit zones to tell motorists where they cannot park when Oxford United are playing at home or when there is a concert at the stadium.

Northfield Brook city councillor Jane Lacey, of Knights Road, Blackbird Leys, has collected more than 500 signatures with neighbours Kevin and Kim Annelly.

The motion put forward by Ms Lacey said: "This council agrees that this proposed stealth tax on the people of Blackbird Leys is both unfair and unjustifiable and we agree to demonstrate our opposition to the county council directly."

Consultation letters were sent to 3,169 residents asking for their comments on the parking proposals.

The survey must be returned to Oxfordshire County Council by July 20.

Ms Lacey said: "We already pay council tax and road tax so why, when the Kassam Stadium is a business, should we pay this extra tax to help someone else make more money?

"It should be up to Control Plus (the firm which regulates parking in the city), Kassam Stadium or the county council to make sure it is carried out by a self-funding company that is able to do the job.

"I hope the county council stop what they are doing and listen to us."

County council spokesman Paul Smith said the council could not comment on the motion during the consultation process.

The consultation is part of a controversial citywide overhaul of residents' parking.