Calls for charges at free park sites (From Oxford Mail)
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting OXFORD NEWS to 80360 or email us
Calls for charges at free park sites
7:00pm Monday 31st October 2011 in News By Rhianne Pope
Calls are being made to introduce charges at Oxford’s remaining free park-and-ride sites.
And the man in charge of transport, Rodney Rose, said his answer to those calls “could be interesting”.
Oxfordshire county councillor John Sanders has tabled a motion for the county council to introduce charges at Thornhill and Water Eaton.
He said there has been chaos since three of the city’s park-and-ride centres started charging this month.
The Cowley and Littlemore councillor said: “I want us to make the changes to the final car parks and save the situation before there is a serious crash.
“It would just save an awful lot of hassle.”
The city council introduced charges at its Pear Tree, Redbridge and Seacourt park-and-rides on October 3.
For the first time in three years, motorists now face a £1.50 parking charge a day on top of the £2.20 return bus fare.
The Oxfordshire County Council-owned Thornhill and Water Eaton centres still offer free parking.
Drivers earlier this month said the move was causing chaos at the overcrowded Thornhill car park.
Mr Sanders said: “So, if the county council wants to score some brownie points and keep them free, then that is very nice. But look what it’s doing to Oxford. Cars are whizzing around the city looking for somewhere to park and the people who are suffering are the people of Oxford.”
He said it was causing major parking problems at the remaining free park-and-rides.
“At the moment if you are going to London for your job and turn up at Thornhill, you might have 10 minutes to find a space or you’ll miss your coach.
“Then you discover there’s no spaces, you’re going to abandon your car on any grass verge or anyone’s driveway.
“You will say ‘sorry, but my job is more important than your inconvenience’.”
He added: “Everyone is against charges, I am against charges.
“But the city council were faced with the position, do they charge at park-and-rides or do they throw people out on the streets?
“They needed the money from somewhere. And this would create an even playing field again.”
County council cabinet member for transport Rodney Rose said he would be giving a statement in response to the motion tomorrow.
He would not tell the Oxford Mail what his answer would be, but said “it could be interesting”.
The motion will be discussed at a full council meeting in County Hall tomorrow.
Comments(16)
RJOxford
says...
8:08pm Mon 31 Oct 11
SteveOX4
says...
9:17pm Mon 31 Oct 11
museli
says...
9:19pm Mon 31 Oct 11
Quite a few people use P&R to park then cycle into Oxford so it wouldn't really be fair to combine the charges for all.
Dilligaf2010
says...
11:34pm Mon 31 Oct 11
I must admit though, the pricing structure of some bus routes in Oxford are a bit wide of the mark.
Last week I had to travel to the JR for an appointment, so I checked on-line for the bus numbers, stops & prices, I think it was £3.40 return.
I decided to drive as I knew I wasn't likely to be there too long, the car park cost me £1.00, and I'm fairly sure I didn't use £2.40 worth of Diesel, I know the bus companies have to make money, but if people are able to achieve what they want to do, for less money, it's obvious they will chose the cheaper option.
Dilligaf2010
says...
11:34pm Mon 31 Oct 11
I must admit though, the pricing structure of some bus routes in Oxford are a bit wide of the mark.
Last week I had to travel to the JR for an appointment, so I checked on-line for the bus numbers, stops & prices, I think it was £3.40 return.
I decided to drive as I knew I wasn't likely to be there too long, the car park cost me £1.00, and I'm fairly sure I didn't use £2.40 worth of Diesel, I know the bus companies have to make money, but if people are able to achieve what they want to do, for less money, it's obvious they will chose the cheaper option.
Lord Palmerstone
says...
7:05am Tue 1 Nov 11
LadyPenelope
says...
8:18am Tue 1 Nov 11
It would save money for those with more than 1 passenger in the car, and would then be cheaper than driving to the city centre to park in the multistorey.
Danny A
says...
10:06am Tue 1 Nov 11
LadyPenelope wrote:The combined parking-bus ticket is a no brainer.
Why not charge £5 for all day parking and a free bus for all passengers in the car?
It would save money for those with more than 1 passenger in the car, and would then be cheaper than driving to the city centre to park in the multistorey.
Sadly I fear that county hall also has a deficit of brain power.
Gunslinger
says...
10:10am Tue 1 Nov 11
LadyPenelope wrote:Because not all people using the car parks necessarily use the P&R buses. At Redbridge for instance, normal service buses also call and serve other places like the JR Hospital. People who 'park and cycle' have also been mentioned.
Why not charge £5 for all day parking and a free bus for all passengers in the car?
It would save money for those with more than 1 passenger in the car, and would then be cheaper than driving to the city centre to park in the multistorey.
It would also hit pensioners, because bus passes would no longer be valid.
communitygirl
says...
12:27pm Tue 1 Nov 11
livid99
says...
1:39pm Tue 1 Nov 11
Keep going, you have almost made Oxford unvisitable, just need to try a tiny bit harder. And when are you bringing in the horse and carriages ? There is still a little bit of free flowing traffic, so there are places which still need jamming up.
Muppets.....
LadyPenelope
says...
2:00pm Tue 1 Nov 11
Gunslinger wrote:I thought the whole point of the park and ride (hence the name) is to encourage/stop people with cars from driving them into the centre?
LadyPenelope wrote: Why not charge £5 for all day parking and a free bus for all passengers in the car? It would save money for those with more than 1 passenger in the car, and would then be cheaper than driving to the city centre to park in the multistorey.Because not all people using the car parks necessarily use the P&R buses. At Redbridge for instance, normal service buses also call and serve other places like the JR Hospital. People who 'park and cycle' have also been mentioned. It would also hit pensioners, because bus passes would no longer be valid.
Perhaps they should rename it? Park and ride/cycle/walk?
If you haven't got a car, you can just pay the normal rate.
LORD PETER M'CVEY
says...
6:36pm Tue 1 Nov 11
LadyPenelope wrote:Because that thatcher woman privatised the buses. Out of you £5 how do we divide the payment to us and the bus companies without more expensive paperwork. Now if the buses were still government owned, no problem. And you also wouldn't be paying a couple of quid from summertown to the city for a mile journey.
Why not charge £5 for all day parking and a free bus for all passengers in the car?
It would save money for those with more than 1 passenger in the car, and would then be cheaper than driving to the city centre to park in the multistorey.
interested123
says...
9:42am Wed 2 Nov 11
alu355
says...
7:37pm Wed 2 Nov 11
Typical annual running costs for Peartree, Redbridge and Seacourt combined were:
Site Parking Attendants £275k
Rates & Utility costs £165k
Site Maintenance costs (this includes grounds maintenance, wnter gitting/snow clearing, cleaning etc) £70k
Site Rent Payments £325k
Hire of Portocabins/Toilets £30k
TOTAL £865k
The typical annual running costs for Thornhill & Water Eaton combined was:
Rent/Rates/Utility costs £110k
Site Maintenance costs £30k
Site Contractor £300k
TOTAL £440k
Andrew:Oxford says...
7:28pm Mon 31 Oct 11
Use the income to help pay for salt and grit this winter.