Sir – Surprise, surprise. Charges up, number of cars using Water Eaton park-and-ride drop by more than a third.

Congestion on Oxford’s ring roads up. Charges at city car parks up. Number of proposed expensive alternative schemes, like trams, tunnels, suggested increase. Not to mention the consequential burdens placed on local people, such as the imposition or residents’ parking zones to offset “over-spill” parking, from non-users of park-and-ride sites, and parks, where the city has introduced charges.

Residents lose out, congestion loses out, Oxford’s visitors and economy vibrancy loses out. This also cannot do anything for excessive carbon emissions on North Oxford’s overloaded ring roads?

Yes, the recessionary climate is a constraint; so these fanciful schemes for trams and tunnels will not see the light of day for a long time to come, whether they offer an effective solution or not. So when, if ever, will the ‘penny drop’ and simpler solutions be implemented first? For example making park-and-rides free to reduce car use? Introducing dedicated joined-up segregated cycle lanes, for example from Oxford Parkway rail station directly south beside the A4165 Banbury Road into the city?

David Stone
Oxford