A SURPLUS from parking charges in Oxfordshire will be invested in new transport facilities including park-and-rides, council leaders have pledged.

The surplus produced from council parking operations in England has reached a record of over three quarters of a billion pounds, according to the RAC Foundation.

In the 2015-16 financial year the 353 local authorities in England generated a combined profit of £756m from their on-street and off-street parking activities.

The county council came 85th with a surplus of £2.2m compared to about £2m the previous year while the city council came 53rd with a surplus of £3.7m, down from £4.8m the previous year.

County council spokesman Martin Crabtree said: “Income generated from parking goes back into the transport system.

“That means maintenance of the park-and-ride sites, new pay-and-display machines as well as towards other planned future transport improvements.”

Labour city councillor Alex Hollingsworth said: “We charge more in the city centre and less at park-and-rides to make public transport the most attractive option.”

Vale of White Horse District Council was 305th with a loss of £1,000, South Oxfordshire District Council was 206th with a surplus of £518,000, West Oxfordshire District Council was 339th with a loss of £154,000, and Cherwell District Council was £160th with a surplus of about £1m.

Surpluses came from parking charges and from penalty notices.