Oxford is proposing to introduce a “temporary congestion charge”. If you believe that will only be temporary then you are surely gullible. It would only apply to cars and the charge would be £5 per day. To quote from the proposal: “The scheme is designed to improve bus services and make it easier for those with permits, including community health and care workers, carers, blue badge holders and traders, to travel by car into and around the city”.

How will it make it easier for those people to travel into the City or improve bus services? It would only help if it reduces traffic congestion but such schemes very rarely do so. The unsatisfied demand for road space is so high that the road space quickly fills up.

There is of course no proper cost/benefit analysis in the report and it is just another way to raise taxation on motorists.

You can respond to a public consultation on the scheme here: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/congestion-charge . Please do so.

Roger Lawson (Twitter: https://x.com/Drivers_London )

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