Councillors are expected to vote through radical plans to restrict car movements in Oxford at a special meeting on Tuesday (November 29).
The extraordinary meeting of Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet is expected to approve the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan (COTP) and the start of a pilot scheme, lasting six-months or more to introduce six traffic filters which will prioritise buses, taxis, motor cycles, vans HGVs and emergency vehicles.
The filters at St Cross Road, Thames Street, Hythe Bridge Street, St Clements, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way will operate from 7am – 7pm seven days a week apart from Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way filters which won’t operate on Sundays.
Residents in certain areas will be allowed permits to drive through the filters for up to 100 days per year. Those areas include the whole of Oxford City Council’s area plus North and South Hinksey parishes and Cumnor Parish east of the A420, including Botley, Dean Court, Cumnor Hill, Chawley and parts of Cumnor.
They will be entitled to a maximum of three permits per household and one permit per person. Permits are also available for blue badge holders, health or care workers and good vehicles based within the area.
Automatic number plate recognition (APNR) will operate and fines (currently £70) will be issued to those driving through filters without valid permits.
If the scheme, which has been recommended for approval by officers, is approved by councillors the trial is due to start in Summer 2023.
Approval of the COTP will formalise the county council’s plans for a host of further traffic measures including a workplace parking levy and expanding the city’s zero emissions zone.
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