'No better idea' than new charge - council leader

Hythe Bridge Street would be one of six charging points

No one has come forward with a "better idea" than a congestion charge for improving traffic flow in Oxford, according to a council leader.

A temporary £5 daily charge for cars is being proposed on six city centre roads, with permits and exemptions for some users.

More than 7,000 people responded to a public consultation, with around three-quarters saying the plan would negatively impact them.

Oxfordshire County Council leader Liz Leffman admitted the scheme was "a bit messy" and would not be "perfect" but said it was the "only suggestion that's come forward that actually makes any real sense".

Oxford Bus Group warned that congestion was at "emergency levels" in the city and has pushed for action

Oxfordshire County Council is under pressure to speed up bus journey times, having promised a 10% improvement by the end of this year, which is linked to investment in electric buses.

Planned traffic filters were expected to help deliver that pledge, but have been delayed by the prolonged closure of Botley Road.

A scrutiny committee examining the plans asked what alternatives had been considered.

Leffman said: "Nobody has come forward with a better idea - the only thing that I've heard from people is we want to make sure that bus journey times are improved, so we have to find a way of doing that and this is the proposal."

The committee also quizzed council officers on what the congestion charge would mean for road safety.

Modelling by the authority suggested that casualties could reduce overall by 8% but collisions on the ring road could increase by 3% as more traffic is pushed to the outer route.

Council officer Aron Wisdom said: "We are predicting that there may be some additional collisions on the ring road."

"But when you factor that into the expected collision reductions within the city, where you have way more vulnerable road users - pedestrians and cyclists - then that is seen as an overall benefit."

The committee has put forward a number of recommendations for consideration, including a new exemption for parents with children awaiting Special Educational Needs assessments, a commitment to provide discounted bus fares in deprived and rural areas and a review of the bus network.

The final decision on the scheme will be made by Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet next month.