Oxford MP ‘surprised’ by potential congestion charge in the city
Annaliese Dodds says “it could be really difficult for a lot of people to pay that charge when they're already struggling”
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford East says she is “surprised” by plans to potentially introduce congestion charges among some roads in the city.
Oxfordshire County Council are looking at easing traffic by implementing a temporary £5 daily charge in Autumn of this year.
The congestion charge would apply to cars without a permit, after the traffic filters trial was postponed due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road, which is now expected to reopen in August next year.
The County Council say it is ‘committed to addressing congestion in the short-term’.
Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East, said: "I'm pretty surprised to hear this proposal coming from Oxfordshire County Council. There was no suggestion during the county elections from the Liberal Democrats, who are now in charge of the County Council, that they wanted to go ahead with a congestion charging scheme. The first that all of us have heard of this was yesterday.”
The former Government Minister also says, “it could be really difficult for a lot of people to pay that charge when they're already struggling with really high costs in our city”.
She said: “We all want to be taking more public transport when we can or cycling or walking, but for a lot of people in our city, that is incredibly difficult or even impossible because public transport often just isn't there, or those alternatives aren't there.”
Ms Dodds wants to see a ‘joined-up approach where everyone is involved’ and has a say in the proposals.
She said: “The key thing for our city is we've got to have that chance to sit down for local people, local residents or people living in Oxford.
She added: “It really needs to be people who live in our city having that chance to say right, if we look forward for the next 10 years, here's how we'll try and boost our public transport.”
Cllr Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We urgently need to see improvements to travel around the city; better bus services and less traffic overall, to help people get around.
“We must take action for our residents, businesses and visitors while Botley Road remains closed and I look forward to discussing the options with cabinet colleagues.”
The council also say, ‘any surplus income from the proposed scheme could be used to fund travel improvements like cheaper bus tickets and parking at park and ride sites.’
Subject to approval, a six-week public consultation on the introduction of a temporary congestion charge would start 23rd June.