THE stance taken by Oxford City and Oxfordshire County councils that “there’s no more room at the inn” over car parking at the city’s hospitals is almost King Canute-like.

Of course it would be a dereliction of duty to just turn a blind eye and allow open season. But there is a very good reason that the Oxford University Hospitals Trust wants to expand its car parks.

It’s not to boost its parking income. It is because the sick, the elderly and visitors need to be able to get to the hospital.

The councils’ religious adherence to the mantra that car numbers were set under old planning provisions flies in the face of the need of the public.

The JR is not some newish housing estate where homeowners are now demanding the right to park three cars outside their front door. These are hospitals where people who are ill, injured or under considerable stress due to the health of a loved one need to get in and out as efficiently as possible.

Advocating bus journeys for people needing a hospital visit is anti-car zealotry.

And then there is the cost to the public purse of missed appointments.

It’s time the councils realised they have a duty to the wider public to find a solution.