PLANNERS must 'bite the bullet' and get on with deciding a controversial plan to extend the number of parking spaces at Oxford's Seacourt park-and-ride, a councillor has warned.

A £4m scheme to extend the car park at the end of Botley Road has been proposed by the city council, but the move is controversial as the 650 new spaces would in the the floodplain and a decision has been delayed.

Labour city councillor for Jericho and Osney, Susanna Pressel, said planners needed to make a decision at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 31.

In March, a decision on the application was pushed back in the face of environmental concerns.

City council leaders are keen for the scheme to go ahead to reduce congestion after the £440m Westgate Centre opens.

But some residents in Botley Road have questioned the wisdom of the scheme, which would also feature a single-storey waiting area, cycle parking, lighting, and ticket machines.

Ms Susanna Pressel said: "This is a very controversial application.

"Many people have been keen to see an expansion of the Seacourt park-and-ride.

"I’m told that it is now full most of the time, so we do need more spaces somewhere.

"We badly need to reduce congestion and improve air quality in Botley Road.

"However, would it come at too high a price? Residents who live near the car park are especially worried that any extension would increase the flood risk to their homes."

Ms Pressel said the meeting of the West area planning committee was scheduled to be held at the town hall at 6.30pm.

She added: "I really hope that it does go ahead because the decision date has been postponed so many times - the time has come finally to bite the bullet."

Andy Webber, who lives off Botley Road, earlier said he was concerned about the effect of the extra spaces on the floodplain.

Mr Webber's home in Earl Street has been flooded on a number of occasions.

And Adrian Rosser, who lives in Botley Road, recently urged council planners to consider instead using electronic signs to direct drivers to Redbridge park-and-ride at the end of Abingdon Road.

More than 1,200 people signed a petition against the plans started by Oxfordshire Badger Group.

There was also an objection from Oxford Flood Alliance that there was not enough evidence to guarantee the project would not worsen flooding in the area.

The Environment Agency's plan to dig a £120m flood alleviation channel around the city, starting near Seacourt park-and-ride, would have an impact on the car park extension.

About £10m has been spent so far on the proposed channel to protect more than 1,200 homes from flooding but the Environment Agency said it could be derailed if more than £4m is not found by November.

Planning consultants Turley said as part of the application that the flood channel was 'likely to benefit the proposed extension to the park-and-ride by reducing the potential for flooding'.