Controversial plans to charge Oxford car drivers for permits to park outside their homes have prompted one of the largest responses to public consultation in the city.

Nearly one in five 5,000 of the 26,000 people who were sent questionnaires by Oxfordshire County Council earlier this year responded before last week's deadline.

It is not known yet whether the majority were in favour or against the authority's plans to charge at least £40 for a parking permit.

Detailed results are expected in September after Jacobs Babtie, the firm undertaking the project on behalf of County Hall, has collated the information.

Engineers have already put up signs and drawn new road markings to advertise controlled parking zones.

One of the most recent zones to be finished was in Lyndworth Close, Head- ington.

One resident claimed the consultation "was a done deal", while another, who did not want to be named, said: "The scheme has not been thought through enough.

"People are totally against charging and it's very naughty of the county council to be doing this.

"I would urge them to start again from the beginning in our area, we don't have a parking problem, but they are going to create one.

"I know many people in our street who are going concrete over their front gardens."

However, county councillor David Robertson, cabinet member for transport, said the appearance of controlled parking signs and bays did not pre-empt the outcome of the consultation.

He said the only unresolved issue was whether to charge for permits for residents parking schemes in Oxford.

He added: "Most people want the zones, the issue is about charging.

"The county council's policy was developed before there was any overall control.

"I have always said if you were to ask people a straightforward question like 'do you want to pay for something that is currently free', then people would say no."

County Hall has claimed charging for permits would bring Oxford in line with schemes in county towns, while critics have described it as a stealth tax.

If every home affected requires just one permit, that would guarantee County Hall an annual income of more than £1m.

In 2004-5, the latest figures available, the county council paid Control Plus £1.3m to run and enforce street parking in Oxford, but made £1.6m from parking meters and £1.1m from fines.

Richard Dix, the county's assistant head of transport, said officers were now analysing the replies for a report on the outcome of the consultation.