Clash of the titans.

Once again the administration of our transport system, road maintenance and other associated works reveals policy differences between the county and city councils.

The county council (Tory dominated) appears to be determined to impose residents' parking charges on those living in Oxford (Liberal Democrat controlled).

The possibility of a courtroom showdown (Oxford Mail, October 5) between the two councils will be a waste of public money because: The cost of litigation will never be recovered Whoever wins, their costs will still have to be met by the council taxpayer Eventually, other means of raising taxes will be introduced to cover costs or lost revenue.

What has been shown is that both the city and county councils have not yet woken up to the fact that the car is an essential means of transport for many and very little thought has been given for parking them.

I blame the county for accepting planning proposals in the city with inadequate parking.

Month after month, city planning officers report to councillors at area meetings that the county has shown no objection to parking provision when it is plain to see that for 'tomorrow's world', it will be woefully inadequate.

I blame the city council for converting garage/courtyard sites for housing, forcing residents to park their cars on the road or in their front gardens.

If the city council can spend £40,000-plus to build 13 parking spaces in Azors Court, Iffley, how come it finds it difficult to maintain designated car park areas?

Why is the city council still adopting one car park space per dwelling when it is plain to see that in a few years, adults in the family will own their own car?

If it is revenue that the county council is seeking, the question that arises is why did it remove parking charges from the city centre during the evening?

It is about time the councils got together, sorted out a policy that meets the democratic wishes of the public and stopped abusing their powers in holding council taxpayers to ransom promoting their differing ideologies.

Vim Rodrigo, Rivermead Road, Rose Hill, Oxford