A PETITION has been launched calling for more parking spaces at Oxpens for ice rink users after the city council slashed capacity at the neighbouring car park.

Earlier this month the council closed off 241 spaces on decking and matting at the car park in Oxpens Road.

That leaves 179 spaces which are expected to remain open until Autumn 2020 but campaigners say this is not enough and have launched a petition online calling for more spaces to be provided.

The petition, on change.org, has been launched by Melissa Price-Jones, from Oxford.

 

It said: “Though redevelopment needs to go ahead this decision and a lack of alternative provisions limits choice and availability of parking in the city centre and disproportionately impacts all users of the cities’ ice rink, including general public, competitive figure and dance skaters and hockey players.

“The council has suggested that people use alternative parking such as park and ride or cycle. However this is not practical for most of the individuals that train on a daily basis and travel from all over the county to develop and succeed in their sport, in particular several children who are released for short periods from their schooling.”

READ AGAIN: Parking reduction at Oxpens car park could lead to more hold-ups

It is asking people to sign the petition to lobby the council to show support for retaining parking at the Oxpens site, or alternative additional provision near the ice rink beyond 2020’.

So far more than 860 people have signed the petition, which has a target of 1,000 names.

The reduction in spaces result from the expiry of the temporary planning permission for the decking and an extension, granted during the construction of the Westgate Centre, which opened in October 2017.