OXFORD City Council has been accused of ‘double standards’ after it was revealed parking charges will not be introduced at car parks used by its own staff.

Daytime charges will be introduced in at six Oxford parks for the first time next April.

But two parks – Cowley Marsh Rec and Horspath Road Rec – have escaped the move.

It is understood senior managers removed the sites from the plan as the parks are used by council staff at the Horspath and Cowley depots and they feared a workers backlash at paying a £10 a day to park.

Labour councillor Saj Malik said: “We cannot have these double standards. If the spaces are for City Works (staff) they need to be treated equally. You cannot preach and not practice yourself. We are telling people to car share and not to drive to help the environment.

“We should send a message to our workers to find alternative transport.”

On Wednesday, the city council executive board approved plans to increase charges at several city centre and suburban car parks.

In Headington, this would see the price of parking for three hours jump from £1.50 to £3.

A petition was handed to the council which had been signed by hundreds of shoppers in the area.

Elaine Bellenger, of the Monaco fashion shop in Old High Street, said: “I appreciate they need to increase prices but how on earth can they justify doubling car parking charges?

Mrs Bellenger said the council was in a lucky position of having most shops filled in Oxford, and they shouldn’t drive away trade to towns like Witney and Banbury.

Gary McGill, manager of Fusion Hairdressers on London Road said: “I think it is absolutely disgraceful.

“They are pricing us out.”