Lib Dems say: Keep Residents' Parking Free

Oxfordshire County Council is currently consulting on introducing residents' parking charges in Headington and the rest of the city.

Your local city councillors, David Rundle and Stephen Tall, are utterly opposed to this plan. So too are both your Lib Dem county councillors, Gail Bones and Altaf Khan. All of us will be voicing our local opposition loud and clear in the coming months.

Across Oxford there are very good reasons to see residents' parking charges as unjust, but there are particular concerns in Headington.

1) Headington has become Oxfordshire's hospital hub. The increased traffic that's creating means there's a need for residents' parking. It's unfair to make residents pay when the extra traffic is not of their making.

2) Before charging is even considered, the enforcement of the parking zones should be improved. Enforcement brings fines which might be enough to meet any costs. In Headington, there are serious doubts about whether enough enforcement is happening.

3) In the whole Headington and Marston area, we need more parking controls, not a poll tax on local car-owners.

Public consultation on residents' parking charges

Ultimately, the decision lies in the hands of the Conservative-controlled County Council - but your local Lib Dems will do all we can to lobby on your behalf that they ditch this plan.

We would urge all residents who are being consulted to make known your views in writing to the County Council. The deadline for receipt of comments is 5.00 pm, Thursday, 20th July.

If you can help mobilise your friends and neighbours also to write in that would be a great help. And if you can encourage them to sign our petition - www.stephentall.org.uk/petitions/2.html - that will help us to spread the word still further.

We are in no doubt of the strength of public feeling on this issue. It is important we ensure the Conservatives on the County Council are made equally well aware.

Archive of articles relating to residents' parking charges:

'Tory parking charges start 16th June in Headington' (22nd Feb, 2007) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/000494.html

'Tories ignore city residents on parking charges (again)' (18th October, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/425.html

'Official: Tories recommend charging for residents' parking' (14th September, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/404.html

'City Council challenges County Council over parking charges' (27th August, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/389.html

'Parking permit charges - no Lib Dem collaboration if Tories ignore public consultation' (30th July, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/366.html

'Huge response to residents' parking charges consultation' (26th July, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/364.html

'"Keep Residents' Parking Free" - thank you for your support' (20th Jul, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/357.html

'Residents' parking charges: 5 days to respond!' (15th July, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/353.html

'Keep Residents' Parking Free - have you sent in your views yet?' (3rd July, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/343.html

'The green argument for keeping residents' parking free' (27th June, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/344.html

'Your views on residents' parking charges' (19th June, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/335.html

'Open letter: Keep Residents' Parking Free' (17th June, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/332.html

'Have your say: Tory residents' parking charging consultation begins' (6th June, 2006) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/322.html

'Oxford Mail: 'City permits are "not fair"'' (3rd Dec, 2005) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/217.html

'Tories propose 'poll tax on cars' for Oxford' (30th Nov, 2005) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/215.html

'Letter to the editor: how in touch is our Tory County Council?' (14th Nov, 2005) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/201.html

'Our top 5 local transport Big Issues' (5th Sept, 2005) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/160.html

'When did you last see a traffic warden in your street?' (5th Mar, 2005) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/67.html

'Majority oppose charging for residents' parking' (29th Jan, 2005) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/43.html

'Keep It Free!' (1st Dec, 2004) - www.stephentall.org.uk/news/5.html