The plans for controlled parking zones in East Oxford have been crafted over several public consultations with residents, resulting in a division into three areas, so that the differing experiences and views of residents in each could be heard and handled separately.

It is of utmost importance that the county council’s decision today on whether to introduce a CPZ takes these views into account and is independent for each area.

We appreciate and respect the different situation in other areas but, as residents of St Mary’s Road, we wish to stress that the parking and traffic access problems in our zone (Magdalen Road North) have become untenable.

There are simply too many cars trying to park in narrow, unregulated streets.

Examples of the daily problems we face include: fire engines and ambulances unable to get down the streets, dangerous parking, regular gridlock and stand-offs between motorists and blocked roads and pavements.

Seventy-three per cent of residents in the Magdalen Road North area who responded to the latest consultation were in support of introducing this CPZ.

The implementation of a CPZ cannot magic away the fact that there are a limited number of parking spaces in a densely-populated area, but it does provide a realistic and pragmatic framework for dealing with these serious problems.

At a meeting of our association on Monday we voted unanimously in support of the CPZ and urge Councillor Rodney Rose to take account of the residents’ views reflected in the consultation results when he makes his decision.

BARBARA COLACO, VALERIE HOUILLON, On behalf of St Mary’s Road Residents’ Association, Oxford