Consultation opens on charging drivers £5 for entering city centre
The Liberal Democrat-run local authority claimed the plan has a series of objectives, such as reducing traffic, making bus journeys faster, improving the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, and cutting air pollution.
Our cabinet approved the public consultation for our proposed Oxford temporary congestion charge.
You'll be able to share your views on Let's Talk Oxfordshire from Monday 23 June.
Find out more about our proposal: https://t.co/it8sSUyCT7 pic.twitter.com/J70QwGZBLR
— Oxfordshire County Council (@OxfordshireCC) June 18, 2025
London and Durham – the only other parts of the UK with congestion charges – introduced their schemes in the early 2000s.
A number of other cities have implemented clean air zones, which charge vehicles that fail to meet minimum emission standards.
Oxfordshire County Council is proposing to launch the temporary congestion charge in the autumn.
It said 'urgent action is needed' to reduce delays to buses, partly caused by the temporary closure of Botley Road since April 2023 because of a Network Rail project to expand the city's railway station.
The congestion charge would remain until the introduction of a traffic filtering trial once Botley Road reopens, which is expected to be in August 2026.
It could be in place as a temporary measure for up to two years, the council said.
The scheme would apply only to cars and be enforced using automatic number plate recognition cameras (ANPR) positioned at six locations.
Cars with a permit or day pass would be able to pass through the charging area without paying.
The council is planning to make permits available for groups such as residents, blue badge holders, frequent hospital patients, taxis and private hire vehicles.
Electric cars will not be exempt from the daily fee as the scheme's purpose would be to 'reduce traffic by reducing the number of car journeys', according to the local authority.
The council said income generated by the congestion charge would be used to cover the cost of setting up and operating the system, with any additional money going towards discounted park and ride services and improved bus services.
The consultation opened on Monday and runs for six weeks.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said residents need assurances that the scheme will end within two years as there have been 'too many times' when charges that are 'supposedly temporary' are kept because they become 'too lucrative'.
He added: 'Ultimately, the aim of the council is to reduce car traffic while creating a better alternative via buses and bikes.
'Expanded park and ride or park and pedal facilities would contribute in a big way towards that ambition.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Councillor's 'agonising' cuts to homeless service
A councillor has described a decision to make cuts to a service he used himself when he was homeless as "agonising".Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member Sean Gaul approved a plan to reduce support beds for young people leaving the care system by more than 20%, and the maximum age range for support from 25 to 21 years decision has been criticised by Oxfordshire's district councils and Oxford City Council, who claim it will increase the risk of young people becoming Mr Gaul said steps were in place to ensure nobody would be made homeless as a result of the changes. Mr Gaul, who has responsibility for children and young people, said he had spent the last six weeks examining the Young People's Supported Accommodation also said he used the service when he became homeless at 17, and credited it with shaping his life's scheme helps people leaving the care system to adapt to independent living, supporting them to learn the skills to live on their own and continue education, training and employment. Young people who are homeless can also access it via the district councils and the city council. Mr Gaul said: "When I was 17, the local authorities stepped in and supported me and I have to make sure that we step in and support those today that need it."But there's an age correction that's needed, because at the moment the scheme is looking after those up to the age of 25, yet we're legally required to support these up to the age of 21."If the authority keeps on taking measures that it's not legally obliged to do, we're at risk of not being able to support anybody."At a meeting on Tuesday, Mr Gaul approved changes to the contract, lowering the maximum age for support, and reducing the service by as many as 49 county council said the decision was made in partnership with service providers, and the reductions were made in locations that were already being Gaul said: "It's been agonising. It's been really, really, really tricky and it's dominated my life for the past six weeks. And quite right. "If we're going to make a decision as big and as profound as this, it should be hard to make." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Extending car restrictions to Rochester High Street a "no-brainer"
Expanding restrictions on vehicles in a Kent high street has been labelled a "no-brainer" for pedestrian safety, despite claims it is a "money-making" Council is consulting on an extension to the existing no vehicle restriction in Rochester, which is currently in place every Saturday, to include Sundays and bank holidays between 10:00 and 16: proposals include the introduction of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at Blue Boar Lane, Crow Lane and Boley business owners have welcomed the expansion, while others are concerned that an increase in fines could hit trade and put off visitors. Hannah Knowlton, co-owner of Analogue Music, said she was in favour of the extension, said the Local Democracy Reporting said: "I think it's good for business that the street's pedestrianised, but we still are getting a lot of cars coming down the street, which can be a little bit problematic."So it's a good idea, but I think the road needs to be physically blocked for it to work properly and while there's possibly an element of money-making, it's the trade-off for safety."Stuart Thomas Kemp, director and tutor at The Wooden Mouse School Of French Polishing, is concerned about fines being wrongly cited one example where both he and a customer were ticketed despite their cars being on the high street at 09:30, with boots open and hazard lights Kemp said: "We knew we had to be off the high street by 10am, but we still got tickets. "If they're extending it from Saturday, is it going to basically go against us when customers are dropping off or picking up their furniture?" Alex Paterson, Medway Council's portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, said those who did not break the rules had nothing to said: "If you don't drive down Rochester High Street between 10am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays without authorisation to do so, you won't have a fine."It is a "no-brainer" to extend the "effective pedestrian zone" already in place on Saturdays, Mr Paterson ANPR cameras would also be used to enforce no right or left turn restrictions on to the High Street when coming from the Boley Hill direction, said the said any income generated through penalty charge notices would be used to cover the setup costs and be reinvested into the area's transport consultation runs until 21 September.
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Petrobras worried about upcoming change in Brazil's reference oil price, CEO says
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - State-run oil firm Petrobras ( opens new tab is worried about an upcoming change in Brazil's reference oil price that determines some taxes and royalties drillers pay, as it could weaken the economic viability of projects in offshore post-salt fields and in its onshore business, CEO Magda Chambriard said on Monday. Chambriard added that oil in its post-salt fields is worth less than crude in its pre-salt fields. Pre-salt oil fields are massive reserves under a hard salt undersea layer. Post-salt are ones above that layer. Petrobras wants to revitalize oil production in the post-salt fields in northern Rio de Janeiro state, and also onshore, and the change hurts that move, Chambriard said during an interview with local outlet Eixos. "There is still a lot of oil to be produced, but it needs to be economically viable, so it worries me a lot," Chambriard said. Oil regulator ANP changed the criteria to set the reference price in a July meeting, after years spent discussing the matter. The move should increase tax collection and also royalties, boosting Brazil's government coffers. A month before the change was announced, Brazil's Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira said the change - to take effect September 1 - would bring about 1 billion reais ($184.05 million) in extra money to the federal government by the end of the year. ($1 = 5.4333 reais)
