On-street parking set to rise by up to a third

Oxfordshire County Council wants to increase the cost of parking in city centre streets like St Giles from £3 to £4 for two hours, with charges for an hour rising by 25 per cent from £2 to £2.50.

Some businesses claim shoppers could be driven from the city centre if the “outrageous” rises are approved, while County Hall said it didn’t know how much extra money the move would generate.

But the council added a proposed new charge of £1 for 30 minutes would save some shoppers from paying a full one-hour charge.

The proposal comes 18 months after some fees in city council-run car parks rose by 40 per cent.

It now costs £2.40 for an hour’s parking at the Westgate and £3.10 per hour at Gloucester Green, and County Hall said the proposed raise would ensure greater consistency in city parking charges.

Last night, Sandy Griffith, secretary for the Covered Market Association, said: “I’m horrified the prices are going up.

“It’s very good to have a half-hourly rate but a 25 per cent increase makes parking very expensive, especially when you think you can park in Witney or Wallingford for nothing.”

The move will see costs increase at 320 city centre spaces and 190 spaces on the outskirts of the city centre.

Ray Lindsey, of Haymans Fisheries in the market, said: “It seems like one kick in the teeth after another at the moment.”

Matthew Cox, of College Outfitters in Broad Street, said: “The half hour rate is good but the increase is outrageous.”

The council has not increased its one-hour parking charges since January 2007, while the maximum two and three-hour rates have not risen since 2002.

Steve Howell, County Hall’s head of transport, said: “On-street parking is primarily intended for shorter visits to the city centre.

“The creation of a new 30-minute tariff would save motorists who need to make a brief stop-off in the city centre from paying a one-hour charge.”

He added that shoppers were also able to use to the city’s free park and ride spaces.

Graham Jones, spokesman for the traders’ group Rescue Oxford, said: “It’s a mixed bag. At the moment any rise in price will make people think twice about coming to Oxford.”

Labour leader Liz Brighouse criticised the lack of financial information provided by the council.

She said: “The council has to understand what the financial implications are before a decision is made.”

But council spokesman Owen Morton said: “The level of increase remains uncertain as many drivers may decide to park for only 30 minutes.

“Also, with on-street tariffs more in line with car parks, others may decide to use car parks instead.”

A decision on the parking charges will be made at County Hall on Thursday, June 3.

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk

WHERE THE CHANGES ARE PLANNED

One Hour maximum:

Broad Street (30 minute and one-hour tariffs only apply)

Two-hour maximum:

Beaumont Street

Blackhall Road

Cromwell Street

King Edward Street

Longwall Street

Merton Street

Museum Road

Parks Road

St Giles

Woodstock Road

Wellington Square

Great Clarendon Street*

Walton Street*

Three-hour maximum:

Mansfield Road

Keble Road

Saville Road

Norham Gardens*

Norham Road*

Benson Place*

Bradmore Road*

Crick Road*

Fyfield Road*

*Lower tariff areas – 30 minutes will be £1, one hour will be £2 and 2 or 3 hours (depending on location) will be £3.