TRADERS have launched a petition to halt plans to build on top of a Headington car park.

The site has been earmarked for housing or student accommodation, to be built above the 130-space car park off Old High Street, which is owned by Oxford City Council.

But traders fear any development could be bad for business.

Elaine Bellenger, who runs dress shop Monaco in Old High Street, said: “I am getting as many people as possible to sign the petition.

“It will have a terrible effect on business because nobody will have anywhere to park their car.

“What parking are they going to provide while they take this car park away? We are going to have months of inconvenience.”

Damion Farah, of deli Jacobs and Field in Old High Street, said: “It would be very bad for Headington. There are already vacant properties here and if people cannot park it will make it even worse.”

A similar scheme is being proposed at St Clement’s car park, where developer Watkin Jones Group hopes to build three accommodation blocks housing some 140 students.

This would also involve the car park being closed for 11 months and the number of car parking spaces going down from 120 to 76.

Neil Holdstock, of Headington Business Association, has been organising the petition, which is in circulation around the area.

He said: “One has to remember that ultimately, the people who make the decision, on whether to build the car park or not, are elected.

“Should they go against the wishes of the majority on such a sensitive matter, I would suggest they are making their future in local politics a potentially short one.”

The car park is also next to Bury Knowle Park and is part of the Old Headington Conservation Area.

This site was listed in the city council’s Sites and Housing Development Preferred Options document as a possible development site.

Following consultation earlier this summer, the council will produce a revised plan for consultation at the beginning of next year.

Council spokesman Annette Cunningham said: “Last year, we gathered views on almost 100 sites that were identified for potential developments for uses such as housing, shops, student accommodation and offices over the next 15 years, and on new planning policies for housing and student accommodation.

“The car park in Headington is one of the sites we have consulted on. Any concerns that are raised will be considered before any further decisions are made.”