A new parking regime is going to hit Witney next year, with motorists facing a new scale of penalty charges for both on-street and off-street offences.

It will all be handled by West Oxfordshire District Council as the police withdraw their traffic wardens and free officers — including Pcsos — from dishing out tickets.

The council has already agreed the framework for the new system, which could be in force across the district by April 1.

Motorists who currently pay a £30 fixed penalty notice for parking offences on the street could end up paying £70, or even more.

But prompt payment could save them money.

West Oxfordshire is set to be the first of the districts in Oxfordshire to take over the full policing and enforcement of parking offences, both on and off street.

Council leader Barry Norton said: "It will be subject to the agreement of the county council, which is the highways authority, but we do not anticipate any problems.

"The police are pulling out because they want to make better use of their officers' time, including Pcsos. The last thing we want is for national contractors to move into west Oxfordshire. We don't think motorists do either.

"We are not a heavy-handed authority and we believe we can do the job just as well if not better."

Regulations are being drawn up to submit an application to the Department of Transport for a so-called Special Parking Area in west Oxfordshire.

A key component of the umbrella system is that regulations for parking offences, both on the street and in public car parks become the same.

Motorists will face the same scale of penalties.

At present there are just two traffic wardens serving the district, supplemented by Pcsos who also have powers to issue parking tickets.

Two wardens are employed by the district council to patrol the 14 public car parks it operates throughout west Oxfordshire, including the Woolgate Centre in Witney.

When the new Marriotts Close development is completed, with a multi-storey car park, two further wardens will be taken on.

Mike McLoughlin, council parking services officer, said: "We are not in this to make money. Essentially, the hope is that we break even.

"But if there is a surplus, it will be used to help finance traffic improvements in the district.

"Motorists should be reassured the intention is to create a much fairer system."

Chris Gardener, of The Crescent, Witney, said: “I think it’s best that people walk or cycle in if they can and leave the car at home.”