A county councillor has called for parking charges at park and ride hubs to be suspended during the busy Christmas shopping period.
Liam Walker has asked the councillor in charge of Oxfordshire’s highways to remove parking charges at county council-owned P&R sites to help support the Oxford high street and reduce congestion in the city centre during the festive period.
Mr Walker said: "In December 2020 to support the festive shopping period, as the then cabinet member for highways, I removed parking charges at our two sites and encouraged Oxford City Council to follow us in doing the same. "This really helped to support Oxford businesses at a challenging time, and I strongly believe the county council should now look to do the same and drop charges for people parking their sleighs this December."
Cllr Walker, shadow cabinet member for highway management, added: "I have long campaigned and argued that making the P&R sites free to park at will go a long way in helping to reduce congestion in Oxford and encourage more people to use public transport rather than parking in the city council owned car parks. Earlier this year I brought a motion to the council calling for parking charges to be removed but sadly the Lib Dem, Labour and Green councillors voted this proposal down."
Mr Walker has submitted a written question to Cllr Andrew Gant ahead of the county council full council meeting next week.
The county council are responsible for both Water Eaton and Thornhill Park and Ride sites. Pear Tree, Seacourt and Redbridge are the responsibility of Oxford City Council.
The council said Cllr Gant will respond to Cllr Walker’s question at full council on 13 December.
A spokesperson added: "Oxfordshire County Council, and its partners at Oxford City Council and the bus companies, regularly reviews the pricing policy at the five Park and Ride sites and in October introduced reduced fares and easier ticketing to make Park and Ride the first choice for drivers coming to Oxford."
Park and Ride services in and around Oxford currently offer a combined parking and bus ticket at a reduced price of £4 for a car with only one adult and £5 for a car and two adults. With both options, up to three children under 16 can travel for free.
The reduced price is part of a six-month trial, which is taking place until 31 March 2023 and is subject to review by both councils and the bus operators.
However, the combined parking and bus ticket approach is a permanent change.