A COUNCIL has been criticised after it approved controversial changes to parking across Bicester.

Traders reacted with fury to a decision to cut the number of long-stay car parks in Bicester from six to just one.

Under the new plan, motorists who want to park for longer than two hours will be forced to use the Cattle Market car park, in Victoria Road.

The car parks at Claremont, Chapel Street, Chapel Brook, Victoria Road and Franklins Yard, will all be reduced to a new three-hour maximum stay, rather than the current 24 hours.

The move has been slammed as “bad for business” and as being “unfair to town centre workers”.

Town and district councillor Les Sibley raised concerns about pedestrian safety in Victoria Road because of poor lighting and narrow footpaths.

Mr Sibley said businesses and residents were being hit by a triple whammy – losing choice, increased parking fees and reduced trade. He said: “When the parking changes happen, unless you go to the Cattle Market, you will have to pay £4.80 a day to park. That is almost double the long-stay charge – and have the hassle of moving your car every two hours.

“What they are doing is forcing people to use the Cattle Market site. But people will always want to park as close to the town centre as possible.

“The net result is that people will be deterred from coming into Bicester, and businesses will be affected.”

Car park season ticket holders, who can currently use any long-stay area, will also be restricted to only the Cattle Market.

Tony Douglas, of Henry’s Menswear, said: “Unfortunately most of the councillors and council officers are not in the retail business in the town centre and they don’t really understand how retail works.

“People don’t want to walk far to get to the shops. If parking is too far away, they will go elsewhere.

“It’s OK parking in the Cattle Market when its sunny, but what about in the winter when there is snow or rain?”

No date has been given for the changes to take place, but Cherwell says it is likely to be before the town centre redevelopment is complete.

Cherwell’s executive member for community safety, street scene and rural services, Nigel Morris, said: “The aim is to have short-stay car parks closest to the town centre, where they are needed.

“We feel that the quicker turnover of spaces will be of greater benefit to businesses.

“As most of the long-stay parking is used by those who work in Bicester, I suspect they will not mind the longer walk when it is likely to benefit them economically.”