Oxford facing congestion charge
Motorists could face a £5 daily charge for driving their cars through any of the roads without a permit at specific times if the measure is introduced
A congestion charge could be introduced as soon as autumn on several roads in Oxford, as the county council consider options for easing traffic in the city.
Motorists could face a £5 daily charge for driving their cars through any of the roads without a permit at specific times if the measure is introduced.
Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet will discuss proposals intended to ease congestion in the short-term, including the temporary congestion charge, on Tuesday, June 17.
This comes after its plans to introduce six traffic filters on the city’s roads, which were meant to be installed in August 2023, were pushed back due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road.
The county council faced pressure from Oxford Bus Group to come up with a ‘Plan B’ for dealing with traffic, after Network Rail announced that Botley Road was expected to reopen in August 2026.
If introduced, the congestion charge will be payable all year-round including bank holidays.
Only cars without a permit would be charged for driving through, and all other vehicles would be exempt.
The charge locations would be on 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.
These are the same roads where the county council plan to introduce traffic filters after August 2026.
The council say the congestion charge would end once Botley Road reopens and the traffic filters are implemented.
The controversial traffic filter trial means that the motorists without a permit would be fined £70 for driving through filter, which would reduce to £35 if paid within 21 days.
The permits for the congestion charge would be the same as the traffic filters, which include Blue Badge holders, including for Blue Badge holders, unpaid carers, cars needed by businesses to carry goods or equipment and emergency vehicles.
A new type of permit will also be introduced specifically for the congestion charge, which would be available to residents of an area who have no option but to drive through a temporary charge location, as well as their visitors and those commuting to that specific area for work.
The scheme would be enforced using automatic number plate recognition cameras (ANPR) at the congestion charge locations, with traffic signs being put in place to mark the location of the charging cameras.
Councillor Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said the proposal was “a recognition that the traffic filter trial has been delayed to levels that have been out of control, and that congestion has continued to get worse.”
He added: “What you would get from this scheme if it is approved, is less congestion, far greater amenity for those who are exempt, much better buses and potentially cheaper park and ride fares.
“It is addressing a problem with a really practical solution.”
At the meeting on June 17, the county council’s cabinet will be asked to set up a six-week public consultation on introducing congestion charge.
If this is approved, the consultation would start on June 23, and the scheme could be implemented in autumn this year.
Other planned traffic measures, such as the expansion of the Zero Emissions Zone and the workplace parking levy, would not be put in place until the traffic filter trial happens.
The council say any income made from the congestion charge would be used to cover the cost of setting up and operating the charging points, and that any surplus could be used to fund cheaper bus tickets and parking at park and ride sites.