Oxford City Council said it would carry out full repairs on the city’s only cobbled street when funding was available.

In Friday’s Oxford Mail, the Town Hall came under fire for carrying out repairs that have resulted in black patches appearing on historic Merton Street.

Complaints began more than 18 months ago, but the city council has continued to fill holes with asphalt, instead of the more expensive option of replacing displaced cobbles.

Merton College Home Bursar Douglas Bamber said the college had received complaints the street was becoming disfigured.

But the city council, which is responsible for road maintenance in minor streets in the city, said it was having to undertake temporary work with asphalt because it needed more funding from Oxfordshire County Council. The county rejected this.

A spokesman for Oxford City Council said: “The work we recently carried out in Merton Street was to ensure that the surface is safe for pedestrians and road users.

“We will be carrying out full repairs on the carriageway when funding is available and it is appropriate to do the work.”

County Hall said while it provides funding for repairs in the city, it is down to the city council to decide on its priorities.

Now Oxford Preservation Society has pleaded for the two councils to come together to halt the deterioration.

Oxford Preservation Trust director Debbie Dance said: “We all understand the problems that local authorities are facing with cutbacks. But it does seem that a street that is seen by so many visitors to Oxford and people who live here, and is such a fundamental part of Oxford, should be given some priority.”

Colin Cook, city council board member for city development, said the problems facing Merton Street came down to the issue of county council finance, with funding insufficient to allow the Town Hall to get on with all important road maintenance projects.

He said any offer of financial support from Merton College for the restoration of the cobbles would be welcomed.

Oxford City Council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We are allocated approximately £1m from Oxfordshire County Council each year. Oxford City Council allocates the funding as and when needed for minor repairs and potholes work.

“However, for larger, assessed schemes in excess of £5,000, we are guided by the county council on how we can spend the money and where.”

Rodney Rose, county council cabinet member for transport, said: “It is rubbish to say that the state of Merton Street is down to the county council.

“It is up to the city council to decide on its own priorities.”