EMOTIONS ran high at Oxford Town Hall last night as county councillors faced a barrage of opposition -and at times abuse - over plans to introduce charges for residents' parking.

About 200 people packed into the public meeting to throw questions at Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, David Robertson, cabinet member for transport, and Richard Dix, the council's head of transport.

The strength of public feeling against the proposed £40 permits was evident in the opening minutes of the meeting with many residents angrily voicing their concerns.

Cries of "you've consulted us but you're going to ignore us" and "where's the democracy?" were met with cheers among a partisan crowd.

And it wasn't just at the meeting that there was overwhelming opposition to the plans.

Sixty-eight per cent of those who replied to an Oxfordshire County Council consultation on the proposals objected to the plans.

Figures obtained showed that two thirds - or roughly 5,000 households affected - vehemently oppose charging.

And there are now hopes among protesters that these figures - coupled with the intensity of last night's meeting - could yet force a climbdown by County Hall.

Mr Robertson, who only a few weeks ago said it was a "fact of life" to charge for controlled parking, last night admitted there could be a rethink in the light of public response.

Before the meeting he said: "I can't pre-judge what the decision will be, but no decision has been made."

But despite his insistence the permit plan is not a done deal, next week's cabinet papers - which contain a recommendation from officers that the scheme is adopted - were printed and circulated before last night's meeting.

The report says: "Nothing in the consultation reveals significant flaws in the case for introducing charging".

The decision, which will be taken next week by the county council, had already prompted fears of showdowns between residents refusing to pay and parking attendants whose job it is to enforce the rules.

Scores of residents jumped to their feet to make their views known during the meeting.

Dave Scott, of Blackbird Leys, said: "We do not want the parking charges and we are not going to pay them."

A Headington resident said: "I am staggered that we can get to this stage - where the majority of Oxford residents have voted against these plans - and still you want to bring them in. What sort of democracy is this? You are taxing us twice."

Andy Webber, of Botley Road, Oxford, asked the councillors why he should be forced to pay for parking when there was never a guarantee a space would be available near his home, before adding: "This is a nice little earner for you".

Another resident said: "It is ridiculous to think that I might have to pay to park in my street in the day but you out-of-towners (referring to the county councillors who live outside Oxford) can come into the city in the evening, thanks to that scheme you introduced, and park for free in my street."

Concerns were also raised about how much the consultation cost to carry out, with Mr Dix then revealing £45,000 was spent sending questionnaires to 26,000 homes in the city.

One resident said: "You spent all that money consulting us when you'd already made up your minds."

However, despite the vast majority being against the plans two people did speak in favour of the scheme.

Defending the plans, Mr Dix said the existing scheme ran at a loss and resident parking schemes in other parts of the country carried a charge, adding: "You get something other people don't."

Mr Robertson, who at one point said he and his colleagues were not there to be abused, said if the scheme was introduced it would be 'transparent'.

As the meeting came to a heated close, with some demanding another public meeting be staged because only a fraction had raised their views, Mr Mitchell said: "We will think very hard between now and next week."