Since 2012, City of Oxford College in Oxpens Road has been renting out about 91 spaces at its college off Oxpens Road at weekends and during college holidays.

For £6, you can park all day on site – a much cheaper deal than the city council’s Oxpens car park opposite.

READ MORE: Drivers on Botley Road queue at traffic lights 

Parking spaces are available at the college on Saturdays from 7.45am to 5.30pm, and on Sundays and bank holidays from 8.45am to 5.30pm.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) But in March the college, run by Activate Learning, was told it could no longer hire out the spaces, which are close to the Westgate Centre.

The college was refused a Certificate of Lawful Use, but it has now appealed against the decision and is waiting the hear the result.

City council spokesman Tony Ecclestone said in March: “In this case, the college sought a certificate for the use of the car park by paying members of the public on the basis that they had been doing so for a period of 10 years.

“The 10-year period being the period where such a use would be immune from planning enforcement action.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) “The council has refused the application because, in fact, there is a condition attached to a planning permission granted in March 2020 which precludes the use of the car park other than by staff and students of the college.

“The implementation of that planning permission by the college meant that regardless of how long the car park had been used the requirements of the condition would have to be met.

“This condition makes the operation of the car park for members of the public unlawful and so no certificate could be issued.”

The existing parking arrangements are expected to continue now the appeal has been lodged.

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

• Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
• Advert-light access       
• Reader rewards       
• Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.