ONE of Oxford’s top attractions is offering to cover the cost of visitors’ parking after charges were introduced at the city’s park-and-rides.

Motorists leaving their cars at the city council’s park-and-rides can get £1.50 off the entry fee at Oxford Castle in a bid to soften the blow of parking charges.

Last year, Oxford City Council started charging users of the schemes at Pear Tree, Seacourt and Redbridge £1.50 per day to park. And the Oxford Mail reported yesterday that £3 daily charges for long-stay users of county council-controlled schemes at Thornhill and Water Eaton could also be introduced.

In response to the charges, Oxford Castle – Unlocked introduced the discount.

General manager Michael Speight said: “We understand the city council’s position and their reasons for having to introduce the £1.50 parking charges to the park-and-ride last year but identified some resentment from visitors about the increasing cost of a day out in Oxford.

“The park-and-ride is a fantastic initiative and we hope the scheme will encourage our visitors to continue using it.”

The discount is currently only for the city council’s park-and-rides.

City board member for city development and tourist Colin Cook welcomed the initiative.

He said: “This will encourage more visitors to use the park-and-ride and help reduce the amount of traffic and pollution in the city centre.”