THERE will be no car parking spaces around St Clement’s for almost a year if a controversial student housing plan gets the go ahead.

Developer Watkin Jones Group yesterday said the Oxford City Council car park would close for 50 weeks if it gets permission for 141 flats.

The plan would also cut spaces from 109 to 72.

The firm said it and the council had drawn a blank on finding an alternative site while work takes place.

Residents and traders warned the move would devastate the area after viewing plans at a public exhibition in Cowley Road Methodist Church.

Stuart Meanwell, owner of Bike Zone, in Summertown, said: “Some of my favourite little businesses are down here, and there is enough pressure on them already without the council doing this to the car park.

“They are so desperate, they think very short term.”

Iffley Road resident James Martin added: “Traders in the area are being asked to hold their breath for a year.

“That’s a very long time in the present financial circumstances.

“In East Oxford, we are in danger of the balance between family accommodation and houses of multiple occupancy getting out of kilter.”

St Mary’s Green Party city councillor Rev Dick Wolff said: “The overriding issue is car parking and traders. With some traders already close to the edge, I can’t see how they’re going to survive it.”

The city council agreed in principle to allow the car park to be used for student accommodation in November 2005.

It will need to approve a planning application for the plan to go ahead.

Councillors will not be able to take the affect on trade into account, as this is not a planning issue under Government legislation.

As reported in Monday’s Oxford Mail, the developer is now proposing three blocks instead of four, as suggested in October.

Project manager Paul Gillespie admitted the lack of temporary car parking would be a major issue. He said he would approach the council with one resident’s suggestion of opening up a section of South Parks for parking during the year-long build.

Mr Gillespie said: “We were asked to pay £100,000 towards temporary provision, and we have done our own search and drawn a blank.

“Within our limitations we have done our level best to improve the scheme,” he added.