Petition to save free parking in Oxfordshire towns

Liam Walker, head of the Oxfordshire Conservatives, is urging West Oxfordshire residents to sign a petition, opposing proposals which he says “threaten our market towns, local businesses and rural communities.”

Liam Walker, head of the Oxfordshire Conservatives, is urging resident to sign a petition to save free parking in West Oxfordshire (Image: PA/Submit)

More than 1,300 people have signed the petition so far, with critics branding the idea as “yet another obscene pseudo tax assault” which “would be another nail in the coffin for businesses.”

This comes after concerns were raised over Oxfordshire County Council‘s Movement and Place (MAP) Plan for the West Oxfordshire Lowlands, which will affect Witney, Carterton and Burford.

The Woodford Way car park on Saturday, January 10 (Image: Ed Nix)

In the plan it says: “The convenience of car parking compared to walking, wheeling, cycling, and public transport, contributes to increased air pollution and congestion. Car parking is therefore a barrier to the achievement of the vision and creating a place that puts people first.”

READ MORE: Free parking in Oxfordshire ‘under threat’ says councillor

The consultation can be accessed online and closes on June 2.

Mr Walker argues the blueprint could pave the way for unwelcomed future parking changes, despite free parking being seen as a lifeline for local shops and services.

The county council insisted there are currently no plans to alter existing parking arrangements across the area.

The authority said the plan is intended to provide people with more choice in how they travel, and recognises that a “one‑size‑fits‑all” approach will not work in different communities.