If there is one thing most of us resent in life, it is the fact that parking our car is almost always accompanied by a charge.

Indeed, such is the intensity of this sentiment, one might actually be forgiven for thinking free parking is a human right.

But since we don’t live in an automobile utopia, we shouldn’t be surprised that parking carries an economic value.

And in a city where roads were designed for horses and carts, we should not be surprised that the premium is high.

And neither should we shocked that our city council is making money from charging visitors who drive here to park.

Naturally, the council argues the amount of money its parking schemes earn is vital for contributing toward the cost of maintaining the city’s car parks. And any extra money generated that’s not used on maintenance is put into the council’s overall pot – so it ultimately pays for other services like bin collections.

Oxford was not designed for the car. And in that we are not alone.

There are other cities, for instance Canterbury in Kent, that have thriving and vibrant shopping centres. Its city council has managed to drive out the motorist. It has high charges in the car parks, several park and rides and business is booming there.

What it does offer, which Oxford sadly does not, is some high-end flagship stores mixed with independent boutiques. This shopping experience alongside its famous cathedral means people are drawn there, like bees round a honeypot.

Sadly in Oxford, once the motorist has either emptied their wallet into the pay and displays or travelled in on the park and ride buses, there’s not much – aside from the dreaming spires – to make people want to return time and again.

We desperately need a new shopping attraction to boost what we already have. The Westgate redevelopment, reasonable business rates and a healthy mix of independent shops is vital to the lifeblood of Oxford.