Oxford congestion charge approved
Motorists will face a £5 daily charge for driving through six roads in the city
Oxford will be getting a congestion charge on several roads in the city for the first time, after Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the plans.
Motorists will face a £5 daily charge for driving through six roads in the city, unless they have a permit or exemption.
All 10 cabinet members from the Liberal Democrat-led authority voted to approve the scheme at a meeting this morning (Wednesday, September 10).
A condition was added to the decision which means the scheme is intended to be put in place no later than November 10.
The scheme has proved controversial, with bus companies, taxi companies and active travel groups backing the charge, while business groups, the city council and schools raised fears about the impact.
A total of 74 per cent of those who responded to the council’s own consultation said the scheme would have a negative impact, while a separate petition calling for the charge to be scrapped has gained more than 13,500 signatures.
Council officers had recommended the plans for approval prior to the decision being made.
A number of public speakers made arguments both for and against the scheme at the meeting.
Anne Gwinnett, chair of the Oxford Independent Alliance, said the findings of the consultation were “nothing short of a landslide rejection, not a vocal minority”.
She added: “These aren’t just numbers. These are the voices of families, workers and businesses screaming that this policy is unfair, burdensome and utterly misguided.”
The managing director of Oxford Bus Company Luke Marion said: “There’s been a slow and steady worsening of journey times we’ve seen on most of the core bus routes in the city.
“The congestion charge proposals are good news for passengers, and many of those passengers are from deprived areas of the community.”
He added that resources saved from the congestion charge going ahead would go towards improving the bus network.
The council estimates it will raise a net income of £3.2 million based on the scheme being in place for 10 months, which is ringfenced for transport improvements.
Leader of Oxfordshire County Council Liz Leffman said: “I hope this scheme will prove to everybody that Oxford can be a place where people can walk, cycle and travel very easily, because we’ve reduced the congestion, improved people’s lives in the city and made it possible for people to move around sustainably.
“I also hope it will have a long-lasting impact for future generations in the city.”
The roads affected include Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, Thames Street and St. Clement’s Street every day from 7am to 7pm, as well as Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm.
The county council first announced the scheme in June after facing pressure from the bus companies to deal with congestion urgently.
The scheme will end when Botley Road reopens, which is due to happen in August 2026.
It will be replaced by the traffic filter trial, where motorists will be fined £70 (decreasing to £35 if they pay within 21 days) for driving through the same roads.
The charging points will be activated for a maximum of two years.
Residents living in the Oxford permit area can apply for up to 100 permits per year, while those living in Oxfordshire can apply for up to 25.
A number of exemptions will also apply, including for blue badge holders, vehicles used for business use, and emergency vehicles.
The cabinet also approved adding extra measures to the scheme based on the responses to the consultation, including free park and rides fares in November and December.
A new company called ‘Open Roads for Oxford’ said they will start a legal challenge against the council, to try to stop the scheme from going ahead.