MEMBERS of a car-sharing enterprise in Headington have been left baffled as to why a decision on their green scheme using two parking bays has been postponed.

Almost 100 locals use just five cars as part of Headington Car Club, which aims to reduce congestion and emissions and free up parking space.

Back in March this year the group applied to Oxfordshire County Council for two new parking spaces in All Saints Road and Sandfield Road.

But despite strong backing from council officers, cabinet member for transport David Nimmo Smith deferred the decision and the club have yet to be told why.

Club member Charles Young, 71, said: “I thought they were completely behind the idea.”

Mr Young added that although he had asked both Mr Nimmo Smith and the council why a decision on the permission had been put off, he had not heard back from either.

A report compiled by officers had recommended approval, and read: “The proposals described in this report would help to support the transition to a low carbon future.”

Headington Car Club is run by Oxfordshire social enterprise Co-wheels, which currently has 539 people signed up to car-sharing services.

So far this year the Headington cars have already travelled 53,000 miles across 1,333 individual trips.

Mr Young said: “Some people think that if a space is reserved for a car club, it is less likely they will find a parking space. But in reality the presence of a club car will make it easier for them to park because it will result in several private cars being taken off the road.”

Across Oxford there are currently 15 vehicles run by two separate car clubs that have their own on-street bays. Two more will be added as part of the redevelopment of Cowley Community Centre in Barns Road.

Oxfordshire County Council spokeswoman Emily Reed said: “At a meeting on October 8, objections to proposed car club bays were presented to the cabinet member for environment, Councillor David Nimmo Smith. “He approved the proposals as advertised with regards to Salters Close in south Oxford but deferred a decision about proposals for bays in Sandfield Road and All Saints Road, Headington.

“This was because Cllr Nimmo Smith decided that due to objections from local residents the opportunity to provide bays off the highway – eg in pub/business car parks – needed to be explored more fully by Co-wheels, an independently owned national car club, as this could reduce the pressure on on-street parking spaces whilst retaining the wider benefits that car clubs bring.”