City congestion start date announced

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

The start date of a city's congestion charge has been announced.

Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet has agreed a £5 daily charge for car drivers on roads with high levels of congestion in Oxford.

The temporary scheme was approved with the aim that it would be introduced no later than 10 November. The council has now said it will start on 29 October.

Residents can now apply for permits using the council's online registration system which will be valid for 12 months.

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 with permits available for carers, traders, blue badge holders and those commuting to or living in a central area of the city.

The charge will be payable only once per day, and allows cars to go through multiple charge locations per day, or any single charge location multiple times per day.

Residents within the Oxford permit area can also get 100-day passes, while those in the Oxfordshire permit area can get 25-day passes.

Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said: "Oxford needs to reduce the number of cars on its roads to thrive.

"I am delighted that we have now reached this important milestone in implementing the temporary congestion charge in Oxford.

"Together with the significant reduction in congestion that we will see with the temporary charge, the permits will enable those who need to make trips by car, to do so much more easily."

A six-week consultation found that nearly three quarters of people said the charge would negatively impact them, leading to some questions raised over the transparency of the decision.

But Mr Gant said the feedback was used "to develop the different types of permits available".

The county council 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.

It will be replaced by a traffic filter trial, where motorists will be fined for driving through the same roads.