Congestion charge 'mere cash cow' say residents

Some people were out protesting the start of the scheme on Wednesday morning

Oxford's new £5 congestion charge, which came into force today, is not "justified" and a "mere cash cow" for the council, some residents have said.

The scheme charges motorists to pass through any one of six charge points along key routes in the city.

Oxfordshire County Council says the charge is about "managing traffic and dealing with congestion at the places where... it is worst".

The scheme does not apply to all vehicles and exemption permits are available for certain types of driver.

Commuter Tom, who drives into the city from Witney, said he "was not a big fan" because "we already pay road tax, car insurance and everything else"."Honestly I don't think it's justified," he said.

"At the end of the day, bills are already tight and the cost of living is terrible - I don't think people have the money to spend on an additional congestion charge."

Tom said he was a regular user of the city's park and ride service - which includes free bus travel for the first three months the charge is operation.

But he said the council "wouldn't need a congestion charge" if the city's park and rides were "more incentivised".

"If the park and ride was cheaper... then people would probably be using it more regularly," he added.

The congestion charge scheme only applies to cars, and exemption permits are available for various groups - including blue badge holders and carers.

Edward, who regularly visits the city to care for his brother, said he had "no other choice" but to travel through a charge point during his visits.

He questioned whether the charge was a "sincere attempt to control the traffic", or a "mere cash cow for Oxfordshire County Council".

Tom from Witney said he didn't think the new charge was "justified"

Sandy, from Oxford, said she had worked on similar traffic schemes whilst working for councils in London.

She urged the county council to revise its scheme for the people of Oxford, who she said were "paying a lot of money for good roads and better traffic and didn't seem to be getting the result they need".

She also questioned why the charge was applied at weekends, unlike London's congestion scheme.

Defending the scheme ahead of its launch on Wednesday, the council's traffic chief Andrew Gant said it 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."