New £5 congestion charge begins on six city streets

Hythe Bridge Street is one of six congestion charge zones in Oxford

Oxford's controversial new temporary £5 congestion charge has launched on six roads across the city.

From Wednesday morning, motorists around the city face a fee for passing through any one of the six charge points along key routes.

The Oxfordshire County Council scheme only applies to cars, and exemption permits are available for various groups - including blue badge holders.

Ahead of the launch, councillor Andrew Gant, the authority's transport chief, said he would be "watching the impacts carefully" as people adjust to the new charge.

The scheme has proved controversial and is currently facing legal action from Open Roads for Oxford, an organisation opposed to the new charge.

Emily Scaysbrook, from the group, previously told the BBC that the charge "terrifies so many" of the city's residents and businesses.

On Wednesday charging points for the congestion zone were introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Thames Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way.

Drivers will only be charged once a day and allows cars to go through multiple charge locations, or any single charge location multiple times.

Mr Gant previously said the plans would "address a problem that has been made abundantly clear to us - that there is simply too much traffic".

"It will enhance bus services, it frees up road spaces, it makes the air cleaner and it makes the road safer," he said.

"The evidence says this will make the city centre more vibrant and a nicer place to be."

The new charge began on Wednesday morning

But many in the city, including Ms Scaysbrook who owns the independent games shop Hoyle's of Oxford, have been heavily critical of the scheme.

"The fact is that the Christmas trading period is what so many retailers and hospitality businesses rely on to survive the following year, and the fact that the council are being as reckless as this to introduce this scheme... is insulting", she said.

"The process has been badly done, the argument is poor, the modelling is flawed, the premise is false - so much of it is wrong."

The county council has also been accused of "not listening" to local concerns over the charge by senior Labour Party figures in the region.

Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds said there had been "huge local disquiet about the division" of the scheme.

"The only way to heal these divisions is for local people to be listened to," she added.