Plans to introduce a £5 congestion charge in a major UK city centre have been fiercely opposed by residents, with over 9,000 signing a petition against the measures. Oxfordshire City Council announced it was considering a “temporary” congestion charge scheme for certain areas in a bid to reduce traffic and air pollution, boost local transport and “improve the health and wellbeing” of the city’s communities. It would see motorists charged £5 a day for access to central Oxford in a move that campaigners have slammed as “a tax on struggling residents”.
Over 9,600 people have signed a petition calling for the plans to be scrapped, launched by independent councillor Sak Malik and the community group Reconnecting Oxford. “The Oxford Congestion Charge is essentially another tax that will hit residents, workers and businesses hard, especially those who can least afford it and are already struggling because of the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) and Botley Road closure,” Mr Malik said.
“It is obscene and ludicrous that Oxford residents will be charged £5 a day to drive around their own city, especially when they have to make essential journeys by car for work, family or personal reasons that are not possible by any other means,” he added.
“It’s just another money-making scheme for the council.”
The council said the scheme would be a short-term placeholder before the launch of a traffic filters trial, which was postponed in July because of delays to Network Rail’s ongoing work on the Botley Road rail bridge.
The congestion charge would be enforced from autumn 2025 for all motorists except those with a permit, which would be available to specific groups including health and care workers, carers, blue badge holders and mobile traders.
It would remain in place until the reopening of Botley Road, which would in turn be followed by the introduction of the traffic filters trial – likely to be around August 2026.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We urgently need to see improvements to travel around the city; better bus services and less traffic overall, to help people get around.
“We must take action for our residents, businesses and visitors while Oxford’s Botley Road remains closed and I look forward to discussing the options with cabinet colleagues.
“The recommendation is to engage with businesses, residents and organisations on this idea for a congestion charge to improve bus services and travel around the city for everyone.
“Any revenue from this scheme would by law be spent on improving travel. This is a bespoke idea for Oxford, it is not the same as a London congestion charge.”