Councillors will be asked to move forward with plans for a congestion charge in Oxford on Wednesday (August 27), although two thirds of residents oppose it.

Lengthy delays to the Botley Road closure prompted Oxfordshire County Council to launch a consultation this Summer over whether a temporary congestion charge should be implemented before the city’s system of bus gates comes into force in August 2026.

Results show 66 per cent of the 7,165 responses said there should be no congestion charge, 7.7 per cent thought the charge was too high and 73.9 per cent thought the proposals would negatively impact them.

The council is now proposing temporary free park and ride journeys and some additional free permit types are added to the congestion charge plans to be considered by the council’s place overview and scrutiny committee on August 27. Councillors will be asked to move forward with the plans, along with any recommendations.

The council’s cabinet will then make a final decision on September 10 with a view to implementation during Autumn.

Cllr Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport management, said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of people who have taken the time to respond and give us their detailed views on this important proposal for Oxford.

“Our officers have been carefully working through and considering those responses. All of this information along with officers recommendations will be presented to the place overview and scrutiny committee meeting in the last week of August.

“That committee will fully debate the subject and make its own thoughts and recommendations clear to the council’s cabinet. A decision will then be taken at cabinet on 10 September. I look forward to reviewing all of the information that will be presented that day and debating this matter with cabinet colleagues.”

Six congestion charging points would be installed at the points where the bus gates will be sited.​

© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).

Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.