Congestion permits 'going well' despite problems

Hythe Bridge Street will be one of six charging points in Oxford

A transport chief has said the application process for permits ahead of a temporary congestion charge is going well.

The £5 charge will be introduced on six streets in Oxford city centre on 29 October, with 18,500 people having so far applied for permits.

But residents have contacted the BBC to complain about the sign-up process being long-winded and complicated.

Councillor Andrew Gant told the BBC: "We're trying to do this as well as we can. It's going well - 18,500 people have registered already which is pretty good."

The temporary charging points for the congestion zone will be introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Thames Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way.

The scheme will apply to car drivers only and permits are available for carers, traders, blue badge holders and those commuting to or living in a central area of the city.

Applications can be made from the county council website, with those applying needing to create an account to sign in.

People in the central permit area need to provide documents proving their address, as well as the logbook for their vehicle showing their home address.

One resident described the process as "indescribably slow", and that it had been "very hard to find paper documents with an address on to scan and upload".

Another said they had to wait on the phone to the council for about 50 minutes to settle an issue with a Blue Badge exemption.

Several expressed concerns for older people who were not online or did not have any family to help them.

Councillor Andrew Gant said 18,500 people had registered so far

When the BBC passed on these comments, Mr Gant said: "In terms of uploading documents, that is standard practice... if you apply for something you need to be able to demonstrate you're eligible exactly as you would for a resident parking permit."

He described the council's undertaking as a "big operation".

"I hear what people are saying about this. All the people you've spoken to have expressed some difficulties, but they've all managed it, it's worked, I've done it myself. That's encouraging..."

He added: "We're managing the system as well as we can and large numbers of people have managed to make it work.

The council expects to raise £3.2m through the scheme, with funds ringfenced for transport improvements in the city.

It first announced the scheme in June after facing pressure from the bus companies to deal with congestion urgently.

The scheme will end when Botley Road reopens, which is due to happen in August 2026.