An interesting element in the likely decision to start charging motorists at the Thornhill and Water Eaton park-and-rides is the apparent U-turn being made by Oxfordshire County Council .

Both of the park-and-ride sites were kept free when Oxford City Council took over the other three facilities and brought in its charges.

The city now charges £1.50 a day, so this move by the county also again raises the issue of consistency within a multi-tier local government structure.

The park-and-ride sites may cater for different types of commuters, but there is still a disparity in the charging and that will inevitably lead to confusion among occasional visitors to Oxford.

The other issue the county will have to address, and indeed solve, is ensuring that people who live near the Thornhill park-and-ride site do not end up having their streets clogged up with drivers who want to dodge paying the fees.

Last week, we reported the similar problem faced by residents after parking charges were introduced by Oxford City Council at Cutteslowe Park, Alexandra Courts, Port Meadow, Hinksey Park and Sunnymead Park.

Earlier this week, people packed into a public meeting in North Oxford to call for an overall strategy to solve parking problems near Cutteslowe Park. People living near the park say park users have simply been displaced to adjacent streets and have pressed Oxfordshire County Council to introduce a controlled parking zone.

The county council in turn says there is no money for a controlled zone and is proposing introducing two-hour waiting limits in Five Mile Drive during the day and banning all daytime parking in Harbord Road.

The county cannot leave residents near Thornhill park-and-ride to pay the price of its policy change with similar problems.

On the issue of charging to park at the park-and-ride sites, the proposed rates do not seem unreasonable.

Of course, no one ever likes paying for something that was free, but the pressure on the public sector purse is intense.

And, with charges only affecting drivers after 11 hours of free parking at Thornhill or Water Eaton, the new charging regime is clearly targeted at drivers who are using the park-and-ride sites for long-distance commuting.

It might turn out to be expensive for those working in London, but they have to ask if leaving your car for more than 11 hours at a cost of £3 is excessive.