PLANS to bring in new parking measures have split an East Oxford community.

More than 20 people dressed as double yellow lines and down in St Mary’s Road to demonstrate support for Oxfordshire County Council’s plan to implement a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in the area.

But the protest on Saturday came just days after a new campaign group was launched by a local businessman calling on the scheme to be ditched because it could “destroy” trade.

Both sides have been leafleting homes and businesses during the council’s public consultation period, which ends on December 11.

Kate Raworth, a photographer from St Mary’s Road, who organised the yellow lines demonstration, said the event was a great success.

She said: “There is terrible congestion in these streets, with commuters using them for free parking and some people just dumping their cars.

“We see near misses every day and ambulances have struggled to get past the cars. It is incredibly dangerous, and we urge the council to implement the scheme.

“There were people from various different roads at the protest. A CPZ would certainly improve the situation, and we feel parking permits are a small price to pay.”

But barber Dennis Pratley, 61, has launched East Oxford Against the CPZ in a bid to get the scheme thrown out.

He believes any new measures in Hertford Street will decimate customer parking and force a string of businesses to close.

Mr Pratley, who has cut the hair of two Archbishops of Canterbury – George Carey and Michael Ramsey – said he feared his 41-year-old business will be forced under if the move was approved.

He said last night: “This is the final chance for people to tell the council exactly what impact this unjust parking zone will have.

“I have already had a good response from people and traders around here, and I know there is a great weight of feeling against these plans.

“Now people have to make their voices heard or it will soon be too late.”

The county council approved a CPZ for the Magdalen Road area in October, but began a fresh wave of consultation with residents and businesses on November 20.

Each homeowner will get 25 free one-day visitor permits a year. Many of the spaces will be shared between residents and businesses, but waiting times would be restricted without a permit.

Earlier this year, county council spokesman Paul Smith said: “CPZs exist nationwide to protect residents from commuter parking, especially in places with Victorian road layouts never designed to cope with parking at current levels.

“To help pay for the enforcement of such zones, charges are levied in London, York, Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Swindon and many other places. Many residents welcome CPZs and the benefits they bring.”

Full details will be finalised after the consultationperiod. Response forms have been sent to properties.