Oxford congestion charge to end as traffic filters launch in September
Traffic filters will replace the current scheme from September 14, with warning notices issued during an initial grace period before £70 penalties apply
The end date for the Oxford congestion charge has been revealed as it is set to make way for ‘traffic filters’.
Following the planned reopening of Botley Road at the end of August, city visitors will no longer be able to purchase a £5-a-day congestion charge permit, and drivers passing automatic number plate recognition cameras during charging times will face a £70 fine.
The policy is called traffic filters, and the change is planned for September 14 with a six-month public consultation set to open on the same day.
County transport boss Gareth Epps said he hopes the switch will mean “people will be able to move about as freely, if not freer, than they are now with buses moving rather than being stuck in traffic jams, people being able to get around walking and cycling”.
He added: “People will enjoy the fact that the city is open for business and every point in the city will be freely accessible without passing through a charge point.”
Oxfordshire residents will continue to have the same number of permits to enter the zone covered by filters, as they currently do for the congestion charge – these should transfer automatically.
Mr Epps called for residents who have not applied for permits to do so online.
Since its introduction, over 205,000 congestion charge fines have been cancelled, including some for ‘deceased’ drivers, others for motorists who were in prison, and emergency service vehicles.
Thousands of cancellations occurred due to permit errors.
Mr Epps said: “There is an initial grace period where people will just be sent warning letters rather than fines.
“But I’m acutely conscious that we need a system that is reliable and that works without people having to go back and make corrections.
“So we’re going to do a lot of work, and I’m going to make sure I’m asking plenty of questions to make sure we’ve got a system that’s as resilient as it possibly can be.”
During the first six months of the traffic filter trial, the council will send a warning notice the first time any car goes through a traffic filter without a permit.
The cameras will remain at the same locations and operate at the same times as the congestion charge.
Those locations have prompted concern about displaced traffic causing issues for residential streets outside the charge zone, including for people attempting to access the city’s hospitals.
The filter trial period is up to 18 months, and Mr Epps said with the creation of a “permanent scheme” after this, “there are no reasons why the existing charging points should necessarily stay -these things can be moved”.