TRANSPORT bosses are looking at whether a controlled parking zone in East Oxford should be expanded.

Six months on from the Magdalen North zone coming into force, some residents have complained the restrictions have just pushed motorists into other streets.

The county council’s transport chief, Rodney Rose, postponed a proposed Magdalen South zone last autumn after concerns from residents.

Now he has confirmed county council officers are examining how much parking “displacement” there has been.

This could lead to the Magdalen South zone, which has more than 1,100 addresses in it, being implemented.

Mr Rose, cabinet member for transport, said: “We always thought there would be displaced parking and we are getting some complaints about that. It is a matter now of finding out how real the problem is.

“The officers are compiling the statistics now and it will probably have to go out for consultation again.”

He would not be drawn on whether the Magdalen South zone would be proposed or not.

Plans for a controlled parking zone – or CPZ – in the Magdalen Road area were first put forward in 2007 but it split the community in two.

In response to public concern, the county council decided the only way forward was to create Magdalen North and South zones.

But a series of consultations and budget cuts delayed the planned south zone. Since the Magdalen North zone was introduced in October traders in the area have been divided on how many cars have been pushed into their streets.

Stuart Silvester, who runs Silvester’s Stores in Magdalen Road, which is just on the zone’s boundary, said: “There has been a lot of displaced parking, without a doubt, particularly in roads like Percy Street and Hertford Street.

“But it has worked out quite well for us because there is a two-hour parking space beside our store, so cars cannot stay for days on end.”

But Michael Diliberto, who runs Giovanni’s Barber Shop, which is outside the north zone, said: “It is hard to say whether there has been much displacement because parking has always been an issue.

“A controlled parking zone would be detrimental because a lot of businesses here would suffer.”

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said there was no date planned for when the authority would make a decision on whether to go ahead with the Magdalen South zone.

He confirmed implementing it was an option on the table and added that in the past six months nearly 1,000 parking tickets had been handed out in the Magdalen North zone, where drivers have to pay £50 for an annual permit.