Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire has warned that a proposed £5 congestion charge in Oxford could hamper its ability to respond to emergencies, according to our Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
The volunteer-run charity, which has around 100 trained members on call 24/7, supports Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue by searching for missing people and assisting with flooding rescues.
Oxfordshire County Council is considering introducing the temporary charge on six city roads in a bid to cut traffic and speed up buses.
In an impact statement sent to the council, Kris Love, operations officer at Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire, said:
“While our members residing in the wider county area will be eligible for 25-day trips into the city permit areas under the proposed scheme, we anticipate this restriction will reduce our team’s ability to participate fully in deployments and training.
It is unacceptable to expect volunteers – who dedicate their time and personal resources – to pay a £5 daily fee for operations they already undertake voluntarily at their cost.”
Mr Love also noted that using public transport would not be feasible for the team due to the heavy equipment they carry.
Council officers responded that staff using personal cars to transport goods or equipment could apply for a permit, provided the items cannot reasonably be transported by bus or bike.
When asked for comment, Mr Love said:
“Lowland Rescue Oxfordshire can confirm that, as part of the Oxford Congestion Charge consultation process, an Impact Assessment was submitted outlining potential implications for our operations.
We have since received a response from Oxfordshire County Council and appreciate the engagement by the consultation team.
At this stage, we have no further comment to add.”
The county council is due to make a final decision on the congestion charge at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, September 10.
Exemptions to the scheme include firefighters, emergency services, and business vehicles used as goods vehicles.
