Oxfordshire business group launches survey amid parking row

The Witney Chamber of Commerce is asking local people to respond to its ‘Transport and Movement Survey’ which comes after the publication of Oxfordshire County Council’s controversial Local Transport and Connectivity Plan for the West Oxfordshire Lowlands.

A row has broken out following the publication of the consultation which is running until June 2.

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The consultation document states: “The availability of free parking discourages the use of alternative modes of transport for short journeys, as people have the ability to do so.”

It adds: “We need to work proactively with community, local stakeholders and businesses to explore options to manage car parking (e.g. removal/ limiting of free parking, re-locating car parking, reducing parking stock) while at the same time protecting the rural local economy.”

Some have taken this as a plan to remove free parking across west Oxfordshire, including Witney, although the county council has said that there are no current plans to change existing parking arrangements.

Witney and District Chamber of Commerce chair Adrian Bullock (Image: Witney and District Chamber of Commerce)

In response, a chamber of commerce spokesperson said on social media: “The main item we want to point out is this plan notes there is very high car use across the region.

“They accept that the aging population and rural setting means car dependency is high YET puts the car at the bottom of a pyramid of hierarchy of transport options.”

The chamber added that there was an “inferred threat” within the consultation to car parking.

A spokesperson for the county council said: “Any potential changes to parking would only be considered in locations that have a good level of access by other modes of transport, prior to future schemes being implemented.”

Free parking in West Oxfordshire is ‘under threat’, it has been claimed. (Image: WODC)

Adrian Bullock, chair of the chamber of commerce, has said the group is working on its own paper about transport in Witney and its surroundings.

As such, a survey has been launched to find out whether local businesses and residents support ongoing transport policy in the region and to feed into the chamber’s own work.

Respondents can take part through the organisation’s website here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KWJXCRH

A statement said: “While we as an organisation represent businesses, our members are employers as well so the needs of residents who work in the area are just as vital to these documents.

“We are not a political organisation, we do not wish to engage in rhetoric, opinions or ideology.

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“We do want to understand as best we can what the people of this area need and want when it comes to getting around.

“To this end we are asking you to complete this survey so we are better informed on your needs and can represent this further to those that are responsible for managing our transport network.”

As well as free parking, the chamber of commerce has spoken out on ongoing construction work on Witney High Street and parking provision within the town.