City eyes UK’s first road congestion charge in two decades

• Oxfordshire County Council has launched a consultation on a proposed £5 daily congestion charge for cars entering parts of Oxford city centre.
• The scheme aims to reduce traffic, improve bus journey times, enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and cut air pollution.
• If approved, the temporary charge would begin in autumn and could last up to two years, until August 2026, when a traffic filtering trial is expected to commence.
• The charge would apply to all cars, including electric vehicles, and be enforced by ANPR cameras, with permits available for residents, blue badge holders, and frequent hospital patients.
• This would mark the UK's first new road congestion charge in over two decades, with generated income intended to cover operational costs and fund improved public transport services.

IN FULL

Drivers could be charged £5 to enter Oxford city centre