COMMUTERS have launched a campaign to stop Oxford City Council introducing parking fees at its three Park and Ride sites.

More than 650 people have already signed a petition against proposed £1.50-a-day charges at Pear Tree, Seacourt and Redbridge from October following the collapse of a subsidy deal between the county and city councils.

Campaigners have said it is too much, and claim the city council will end up making a profit.

Mia Ball, 29, who commutes from Didcot to Oxford each day, said parking five-days-a-week for work would cost £340 on top of her £320 annual bus pass.

Last night, 653 people had signed her online protest petition – at petitionbuzz.com/petitions/oxfordpark andride – while commuters have handed out flyers at Seacourt, Pear Tree and Redbridge car parks.

Mrs Ball, from Oxford Crescent, Didcot, said: “The response has been fantastic, including from people working for Oxford City Council.

“I think if enough of us sign up and voice out discontent, the council will have to listen.

“Their maths does not add up. By our calculations, the council will make a considerable profit by doing this, so we cannot see the justification for the amount they are charging.”

Fellow commuter Katie Peaper, 26, from Lewknor, said: “To find another £340 for the car park is far too much. It will be the best part of £700 a year, and yet still having the inconvenience of taking a bus to work.

“I am going to have to find another way round.”

And Abingdon Road, Oxford, resident Charlene Pell, 26, added: “I think it is completely hypocritical.

“It is already very difficult and expensive to park anywhere in Oxford, and yet they want to implement an additional charge.”

Charges are being reintroduced after Oxfordshire County Council handed back responsibility for Pear Tree, Seacourt and Redbridge to the city council to save money.

All five car parks have been free since 2008.

County Hall says there are no plans to introduce charges at its remaining sites at Water Eaton or Thornhill.The end of the deal between the two authoritie saw the city council lose a £250,000-a-year subsidy, and it must now find £700,000 to cover annual running costs.

Deputy leader Ed Turner said: “No one wants to see charges introduced, but we have absolutely no alternative.

“The county council chose to cut its subsidy for Park and Ride, and in order for the city council to take this on we would be facing a seven per cent rise in council tax, or losing 20 staff delivering front line services.”

Mr Turner said there was no intention of making a profit, and the council wanted to keep charges as low as possible.

He added: “We do understand the frustration of having to pay more, but we suddenly had to take on a responsibility for funding three quarters of a million pounds, mid- year, and there is no way that can be done without the pinch being felt.”

Park-and-ride bus services are expected to be very busy on Friday due to an Oxford University open day for prospective students. Extra buses will be running on route 300 between Redbridge and Pear Tree and route 500 between Water Eaton and the city centre will run every 10 minutes between 8.30am and 5.30pm, instead of every 20 minutes.