THE ‘temporary’ decked car park opposite the Westgate Centre could be relocated to a park-and-ride in a move costing £1.7m.

The car park was built to replace the old Westgate car park which was demolished on the other side of Oxpens Road to make way for the £440m new Westgate Centre.

The decked car park run by the city council was expected to remain open until the owners of the Westgate Centre opened their own 1,000-space car park.

But the 420-space decked car park at Oxpens has stayed open for more than a year after the revamped shopping centre opened its doors.

Now it has been revealed that the decking arrangement is expected to cease by the end of June, removing over half of the 420 spaces.

Earlier this week Phil Southall, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, said the continued existence of the temporary car park, was adding to congestion, as more parking spaces were available than before the Westgate reopened, so this was tempting more Christmas shoppers to drive into the city.

Green city councillor Craig Simmons said: “The costly Oxpens decking was meant to be temporary whilst the Westgate Car Park was being redeveloped but ended up remaining.

“If the city council is serious about reducing congestion and pollution in and around the City it should be getting rid of this decking entirely - not merely relocating it.

“New park-and-rides are being built by the county council outside the city but closer to where people live. We simply don’t need the decking.”

City council spokesman Mish Tullar said £1,685,000 has been allocated in the budget in relation to the relocation of the decking from Oxpens car park to Redbridge and associated works in the car park.

He added: “The decking will mitigate any loss of car parking spaces arising from flood alleviation works, the construction of the recycling transfer station and associated infrastructure.

“It is intended that the decking is moved across to Redbridge by the end of June 2019.

“However, we are planning to continue operating the Oxpens carpark beyond this point – albeit with the reduced single-tier capacity.”

Mr Tullar said there was no estimated date for the closure of the Oxpens car park but it will close in due course in order for the land to become part of the Oxpens development.

OXWED, a joint venture company owned by Oxford City Council and Nuffield College, is currently considering bids from organisations for a development partner and the results will be known shortly.

The scheme will feature a mixed housing and commercial quarter, including office space and about 500 homes.

Mr Tullar added: “Usage of, and hence income from both Oxpens and Worcester Street car parks has declined and is forecast to continue to do so.

“In line with the council’s aim to reduce traffic in the city centre and the subsequent reduction in central car park use, the council is looking to relocate the tiered parking, currently provided at Oxpens, to Redbridge park-and-ride to enhance that facility’s capacity.”

Redbridge park-and-ride has 1,412 spaces.