There was never any doubt that the public meeting arranged this week over plans to introduce charges for residents' parking in Oxford would be a fraught affair. So it proved.

The strength of public feeling against the proposed £40 permits was evident from the opening minutes of the meeting with many of the 200 people angrily voicing their concerns.

There have been concerns since consultation started on the proposals, that whatever the reaction to the council's £45,000 questionnaire, which in itself was criticised by some as flawed, that a decision to go ahead with the scheme had already been made. Comments made by councillors suggested they were convinced by the argument that if you introduce a residents' parking scheme and have to enforce it, then those people who benefit from it should contribute to the cost.

Indeed, officers are recommending that the scheme is adopted when the county council cabinet meets next week.

But figures we have obtained point, perhaps unsurprisingly, to overwhelming opposition from people in the city to the proposal.

Couple that heated antagonism with a threat from the city council not to administer the scheme and the issue looks like being one of the most thorny the county council has had to grasp.

With members of the public demanding another public meeting before a decision is made, councillors have promised to think hard before they meet next week.

It would be no surprise to us if next week's meeting produces a less than decisive vote on the way forward.