A leading active travel campaign group has claimed that the consultation on Oxford’s proposed congestion charge was “biased towards objectors” after three-quarters of respondents opposed the scheme, according to our Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
Oxfordshire County Council is considering a temporary £5 congestion charge on several city roads to cut traffic before the delayed traffic filter trial begins.
A report on the six-week consultation revealed that of 7,165 responses, 74 per cent said the scheme would negatively impact them, while 20 per cent saw it as positive.
Robin Tucker, co-chair of the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (CoHSAT), said the charge remained the “best option” to tackle congestion.
He said: “Consultations are not representative opinion polls. They are strongly biased to those with the strongest views and the cognitive bias of ‘loss aversion’ means that objectors are usually over-represented, so any view of the numbers needs to bear this in mind.”
The congestion charge has support from groups including Cyclox, Oxford Bus Company, and Stagecoach West, who argue it will improve journey times and make walking and cycling safer.
Read more: Leaders of Oxford public travel groups express support for congestion charge plan
But the scheme has also faced opposition from organisations such as the Westgate, the River Learning Trust, and Oxford Business Action Group. A petition against the charge has gathered more than 13,500 signatures.
The county council’s Labour group accused the authority of “ignoring local people” and said buses should be brought back into public control.
Mr Tucker added: “The council officers have answered hundreds of pages of questions about the proposed charge, and it still seems the best plan. Certainly, no-one has come forward with a realistic alternative to reduce the misery of queues over the next year, so we continue our support for the plan, alongside the bus companies and other transport operators.
“We are disappointed in some political groups that criticise the measure, but don’t propose an alternative – that’s a quick way to lose credibility. To get Oxford’s buses moving as they should, the temporary congestion charge remains the best option.”
A county council spokesperson previously said: “If we are to provide the faster, cheaper and more reliable buses, and improved walking and cycling infrastructure that people say they want, we need to reduce traffic first.”
The report will be considered by the Place and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, August 27. The final decision will be made at the cabinet meeting on September 10.
Permits will be available for some groups, including blue badge holders, while Oxford residents will be able to apply for 100-day passes.
