Oxford park-and-ride charges U-turn

The decision to charge vehicles for evening parking at three park-and-ride sites in Oxford has been reversed.

Oxford City Council said it had changed its policy at the Peartree, Redbridge and Seacourt sites after listening to the concerns of night-time traders.

Councillor Colin Cook said he hoped the annual £30,000 cost to the council would be gained by the city's night-time economy.

The changes come into force on Thursday but daytime charges will remain.

Mr Cook added: "Unfortunately the position is we're having a 28% cut in our core budget from central government and this is one of the ways we are having to make ends meet.

"The overall budget for parking in the city is about £6m a year.

"We are falling below that and are having to make that up from other sources, but at the moment it looks like it will be just the £30,000 that is at risk here.

"We are covering our own costs. This is something we felt that we could do."

Previously Oxford County Council handed control of the sites to the city council saying it could no longer afford to pay the £1m subsidy.