Income generated by Oxfordshire’s proposed congestion charge should be used to improve bus services for deprived and rural areas if the scheme goes ahead, councillors have recommended, according to our Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
Oxfordshire County Council is considering a temporary £5 charge on six city roads following pressure from bus companies to cut journey times.
Read more: Oxford travel groups back temporary congestion charge to reduce city traffic
The consultation drew 7,165 responses, with 74 per cent saying the charge would negatively affect them. In response, the council suggested adjustments, including discounted park and ride fares in November and December.
The proposals were examined by councillors at the Place and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, August 10.
Councillor Liz Brighouse, leader of the Labour group for Churchill and Lye Valley, said the policy was “inequitable” and should be refused. Independent councillor Saj Malik, representing Cowley, said it would “target the most vulnerable, deprived and poor in the area.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Will Boucher-Giles, representing Chesterton and Launton, highlighted concerns for rural residents. He said: “We’re already taxed to come into town for having to use our car, pay for the park and ride and pay for parking. It doesn’t seem to benefit anyone outside the greater metropolitan area.”
He later argued that more funding should be directed to rural services and local businesses, rather than city traffic schemes.
Council officer Aron Wisdom defended Oxfordshire’s transport system, claiming the county has an “excellent rural bus network” compared to others—an assertion met with laughter in the chamber.
The committee agreed a series of recommendations, including directing income towards subsidised bus fares for deprived areas, improving rural bus services, extending the parking permit IT system, publishing regular scheme data, and exempting families awaiting SEND assessments.
The council estimates the scheme could raise £3.2 million net income in 10 months.
Conservative councillor Liam Walker warned: “Assuming it’s a great success there won’t be much income, then that’s that whole plan out of the water.”
But Lib Dem leader of the county council, Liz Leffman, stressed the need to prioritise bus travel: “We need to improve the times of those bus journeys so people can have the confidence that they can get on a bus, go to work, go to wherever they want to be and ensure they can get there on time.”
Fellow Lib Dem councillor Leigh Rawlins added: “We’ll only learn the full lesson of this by actually doing it. But no viable alternatives to my understanding have been brought forward.”
The cabinet is expected to decide whether the scheme proceeds on Wednesday, September 10.
