What's going on in Oxford,why have locals voted for this

[Grumpycat6]

From October,or whenever it starts
My DH is going to have to pay £5 a day ,that's £100 a month
Just to get to work
He can't go by train or bus because he starts and finishes times when they don't run .
Apparently from what I understand this was voted in at the local council elections.or the person who wanted to put this scheme in place was voted in ,.
This is going to effect the price of houses ,it's going to put people off moving to Oxford.
With this in mind I can't understand how this was agreed

If it knocks down house prices in Oxford all the better, but I'm not holding my breath!

A lot of people are opposed to this scheme, but in your husband's case, if he's travelling at times when buses don't run, I think he might be fine? The traffic filters only operate during certain hours.

• St. Cross Road, St. Clement's Street, and Thames Street: These filters operate Monday to Sunday, 7am to 7pm.

• Marston Ferry Road: This filter operates Monday to Saturday, 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm.

• Hythe Bridge Street: This filter operates Monday to Sunday, 7am to 7pm.

• Hollow Way: This filter operates Monday to Saturday, 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm.

Locals haven't voted for it. The Libdem county council are putting forward a proposal for a congestion charge for public consultation but it was not mentioned at all at the local elections. The councillor proposing it was only elected very narrowly.

However, Oxfordshire County Council took £20m of government funding after covid for improved bus services and they have to repay it if the bus services are not better. They'd planned that the station works would be finished and the bus gates would be in 2 years ago but the bus gates can't be used until the Botley Road reopens.

Personally, I have a slight preference for the congestion charge where i can spend £5 if I really want to drive into Oxford than the bus gates where it will be an £85 fine for going through them but I will see when I've read the consultation.

Has this definitely been agreed
What about getting kids to school , people are going to be paying a fortune

It will catch him on every shift either going to work or leaving work

There are 8-10 cities in the UK with a congestion charge. No idea why you think it’s going to affect house prices

Because I can't see how people will be able to afford this

Similar has happened near me. Not congestion, but parking. Will cost people another £80 per month to get to work.

It won't affect house prices. It's just a method of picking people's pockets.

I wouldn't buy a house where this was in place

It hasn't been agreed. It won't affect vans, lorries or disabled badge owners who will be allowed through for free. Residents of Oxford City will have 100 days free per year.

Oxford temporary congestion charge for cars | Let's Talk Oxfordshire

If your husband feels really strongly about it, he should fill in the consultation but it is a short term thing before the roads where the congestion charging cameras are placed are closed to cars more or less completely. Unless your husband fancies paying £85 per day to drive to work, he will have to find other options from October 2026.

Residents get 100 days a year free plus permits for visitors. If anything it will really impact the houses just outside the Oxford permit area who work in Oxford.

We don't even live in Oxford
He just works there
So now he's going to be charged for getting to work .
We haven't got a spare £100 a month to pay this
Ridiculous

I am all for getting less cars in city centres so this would make me more likely to buy in Oxford centre, not less.

I didn't even know they were planning on shutting the roads completely.
Ludicrous

How are people meant to get to work ,who work shifts

Trains and buses don't run 24 hours a day

Then there are almost certainly public transport options running at those times. The restrictions are on peak travel times, and public transport starts and ends much earlier/later than these times.

Either he needs to travel at really antisocial times, in which case these restrictions don't apply to him, or there will in fact be public transport running.

Even if public transport was suitable he'd still have to pay for that so if you would struggle with £5 a day you wouldn't be able to afford public transport either 🙁
What's his job? Could he come under any exemptions? Could his company help out? Is there a car share option?
Could he change his working hours so he can use buses? Yes he still has to pay the bus fare but with season tickets and not having to pay for petrol/car running costs it might work out cheaper.

Shifts are 5 am untill 2 pm
5 pm untill 2 am
And similar in between hours
So either going to work or coming home it will catch him

Already paying for petrol to get to work

Most people pay travel costs, one way or the other.

It’s no difference to people in all the other cities who have congestion charge. Property prices haven’t plummeted. There are always people who can afford to live there.
£5 is very little. In London it’s £15. Plus there is a ULEZ charge for non compliant cars which I think is about £12.50.

propertyes prices still high.

I just added an extra bit - without car/petrol costs then public transport might be affordable 🙂

the Oxford park and ride runs long hours and it is also possible to park there and bike into the city centre. cities like Oxford have to find ways to reduce car use and promote public transport and this is one of the ways.

It is about the same price as the Park and Rides (which operate from 6am to midnight) if he parks and takes the bus. It's obviously cheaper if he walks or cycles from the park and ride. If he works for one of the colleges, they should have a salary sacrifice scheme for bus tickets and for bike purchase.

Are many workers at his company going to be effected by this?
If a company is potentially going to lose a load of staff they might be able to help in some way?