Oxford City Council Approves £5 Congestion Charge Consultation

Strategic Insights -

Oxford City Council has made a contentious decision to introduce a £5 congestion charge for several roads in the city. The cabinet unanimously voted to approve a 6-week consultation on the proposal, which has been met with opposition from residents and business owners. A total of 20 public speakers voiced their concerns at the meeting, citing the potential damage to businesses and the failure to address the root cause of congestion. Cycling campaign groups, such as Cyclox, have also expressed support for the measure, calling for bold steps to reduce road traffic and make the city safe for cyclists and pedestrians.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Oxford City Council cabinet has approved a 6-week consultation on introducing a temporary congestion charge, which will affect several roads in the city.
  • The charge will be £5 per day for drivers who do not hold a permit, with exemptions for Blue Badge holders, emergency vehicles, and residents who live within the Oxford permit area.
  • Public speakers at the meeting expressed opposition to the scheme, citing concerns about the impact on businesses, residents, and the failure to address the root cause of congestion.
  • Cycling campaign groups, such as Cyclox, have expressed support for the measure, calling for bold steps to reduce road traffic and make the city safe for cyclists and pedestrians.
  • The council expects to make the final decision on whether to implement the scheme in September, with the potential for it to come into effect as soon as autumn.
  • The affected roads will 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.

Statistics:

  • 20 public speakers attended the meeting to voice their opinions on the congestion charge proposal.
  • 10 cabinet members voted in favour of introducing the consultation, with the decision being unanimous.
  • 1 cabinet member, councillor Andrew Gant, lives within the city's ring road.
  • The consultation will begin on June 23 and will run for 6 weeks.
  • The affected roads will be subject to the congestion charge for a total of 12 hours per day (7am-7pm, excluding Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way which will be subject to the charge for 6 hours per day (3pm-6pm on Monday, and 7am-9am on other weekdays)).

Sources:

  • Oxfordshire County Council
  • Oxford Mail
  • Cyclox
  • Oxford Bus Group
  • Stagecoach West
  • Oxfordshire Liveable Streets
  • Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT)