Proposed Congestion Charge to access Oxford Station

DynamicSpirit · 2 Apr 2026

Seems so sad that even with a policy as obviously beneficial in terms of its impact on pollution, on congestion, on quality of life, and faster journeys, some people are determined to put in spurious legal challenges. Glad to hear that the case has finally fallen.

RailUK Forums

JamesT · 2 Apr 2026

DynamicSpirit said:
Seems so sad that even with a policy as obviously beneficial in terms of its impact on pollution, on congestion, on quality of life, and faster journeys, some people are determined to put in spurious legal challenges. Glad to hear that the case has finally fallen.

There is a very noisy minority that appear to be convinced that all these schemes are what are causing the congestion etc. in Oxford. They seem to believe that ditching them will return Oxford's roads to a previous nirvana. Although this case was rejected, I wouldn't be surprised to see an attempt made to appeal it.
The latest furore is around a traffic camera put in two years ago to enforce no left turns at a dangerous junction has made £600k in fines. Never mind the restriction has been there for 20 years, this is clearly a ploy by the current councillor in charge of transport to extort the motorist...
I imagine there will be a lot more noise around it in May with the City Council elections, even though it's the County Council that are the highways authority.
It will be interesting to see what happens when Botley Road finally reopens in August and becomes the only free route for private cars to the station and the Westgate shopping centre.

Edvid · 1 Jul 2026

The congestion charge will be replaced by the traffic filter trial on 14 September, two weeks after the scheduled reopening of Botley Road to motor traffic.

01 July 2026

Traffic filter trial to start on 14 September
The long-planned traffic filter trial will replace Oxford’s temporary congestion charge on Monday 14 September, as a way to further reduce traffic in the city. This follows the planned reopening of Botley Road at the end of August.

Oxfordshire County Council’s traffic filter trial will operate in a similar way to the temporary congestion charge, with the filters being at the same six locations and a permit scheme in place. The trial, under an experimental traffic regulation order, can last for up to a maximum of 18 months.

The key difference is that, from 14 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to go through the traffic filters. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can travel through the filters at all times. However, with Botley Road open, everywhere in Oxford will be accessible by car without driving through a traffic filter. You may need to take an alternative route, but often you won’t.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “The traffic filter trial is designed to further reduce congestion in the city, creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive Oxford. By removing the option for drivers to pay, it aims to further reduce through-traffic and encourage more people to take public transport or walk, cycle and wheel.

“A six-month public consultation will open on 14 September, and we invite residents and businesses to give feedback on how the scheme is working for them.

“Your feedback will help us shape our future plans. We are listening and learning as we develop the best long-term solution for traffic in and around Oxford.”

Most people with congestion charge permits don’t need to take any action as their permits will be automatically transferred to traffic filter permits.

The council is contacting all permit holders before the trial starts to explain what will happen next and if they need to take any action.

For people who don’t yet have a permit, applications are now open online. Residents in the Oxford permit area are eligible for 100 day passes per year, while residents in the Oxfordshire permit area are eligible for 25 day passes per year.

About the traffic filter trial

The traffic filter trial was approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet in November 2022, but implementation has been delayed because of the closure of Botley Road, due to Network Rail’s improvements to Oxford Rail Station.

At each traffic filter site, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will monitor and enforce the restrictions. There will be no physical barriers. Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).

During the first six months of the traffic filter trial, the council will send a warning notice the first time any car goes through a traffic filter without using a permit, instead of sending a penalty charge notice.

The locations and operating times of the traffic filters will be the same as the temporary congestion charge:

Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm

Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm

fishwomp · 1 Jul 2026

Edvid said:
The congestion charge will be replaced by the traffic filter trial on 14 September, two weeks after the scheduled reopening of Botley Road to motor traffic.

It says that "The key difference is that, from 14 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to go through the traffic filters. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can travel through the filters at all times."

Or, put another way, the congestion charge is now £35 (a £70 fine, reduced for quick payment). Yep, that should certainly work..

tomoufc · 1 Jul 2026

fishwomp said:
It says that "The key difference is that, from 14 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to go through the traffic filters. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can travel through the filters at all times."

Or, put another way, the congestion charge is now £35 (a £70 fine, reduced for quick payment). Yep, that should certainly work..

This is good. £5 was far too low.

Falcon1200 · 2 Jul 2026

I remember the Marston Ferry Road being built in the early 1970s (it runs behind my old primary school) to connect areas such as Headington and Summertown without having to go through Oxford city centre or use the Northern bypass. Now, if you drive it at peak times, it will cost you £35 - Unbelievable. And, as always with this schemes, there are disbenefits as well as advantages; The traffic on Marsh Lane (Marston) at peak hours, which is always bad, has become even worse thanks to people finding alternative, cheaper, routes.

JamesT · 2 Jul 2026

Falcon1200 said:
I remember the Marston Ferry Road being built in the early 1970s (it runs behind my old primary school) to connect areas such as Headington and Summertown without having to go through Oxford city centre or use the Northern bypass. Now, if you drive it at peak times, it will cost you £35 - Unbelievable. And, as always with this schemes, there are disbenefits as well as advantages; The traffic on Marsh Lane (Marston) at peak hours, which is always bad, has become even worse thanks to people finding alternative, cheaper, routes.

One of the big mistakes they made when building the John Radcliffe hospital was not to build a dedicated ring road access point. That would clear up a huge amount of traffic coming through Marston and Headington.

Of course, once Botley Road reopens under the bridge, the title of this thread will no longer be true as it will be possible to get to the train station without going through a filter. I wonder if the council have chosen September rather than August because they don't believe Network Rail will stick to the timetable?

Edvid · 2 Jul 2026

JamesT said:
I wonder if the council have chosen September rather than August because they don't believe Network Rail will stick to the timetable?

If Botley Road reopens on schedule September will be less than 24 hours out anyway!

Starting the trial on 31 August would be a big risk since it assumes Botley Road is fully restored both under the railway bridge and on Osney Bridge (Thames Water works) that very morning.

Falcon1200 · 2 Jul 2026

JamesT said:
One of the big mistakes they made when building the John Radcliffe hospital was not to build a dedicated ring road access point.

I couldn't agree more! My parents bought their home in Marsh Lane when it was a dead end. Then the housing estate was built, then the connection to the bypass, and then the JR - The traffic on the road now is an absolute nightmare, and nothing the Council does regarding road 'improvements' has the slightest concern for the residents of Marsh Lane. The latest changes from September are no different.

Edvid · 22 Jul 2026

With another delay to the Botley Road works announced today, it means the traffic filter trial will also be postponed (again).

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This [closure update] is frustrating news for residents and businesses who have endured this closure for far too long as it is.

“We will continue to work with Network Rail and other partners to ensure the road can be reopened at the earliest possible time.

“As Network Rail has not released a revised opening date for Botley Road, we currently cannot say when our traffic filter trial will start and the temporary congestion charge will end. We will make an announcement in due course, once we can be certain about the reopening.”

Earlier this month the council announced that the traffic filter trial would replace Oxford’s temporary congestion charge on 14 September. Clearly this will not happen now, as the traffic filter trial will only begin after Botley Road has reopened.

Edvid · 6 Aug 2026

Revised date for traffic filters provided; press release is pretty much the same as before.

Oxfordshire County Council’s traffic filter trial will start on Monday 28 September, replacing the temporary congestion charge as a way to reduce traffic in the city. This follows Network Rail’s revised programme to reopen Botley Road on 20 September.

Edvid · Thursday at 10:49

With Botley Road now open under the railway bridge OCC officially gave 28 days' notice of the congestion charge's termination on 21 September. According to a Bicester Town councillor they still intend to introduce the traffic filters on 28 September which, contrary to the notice, means that both schemes will technically run simultaneously for 3 weeks even though OCC won't enforce the congestion charge during that period.

Cllr Sam Holland

Another day, another administrative mess from Liberal Democrat Oxfordshire County Council. They’ve issued a notice today to end the temporary Oxford congestion charge – but their own legal order...

www.facebook.com

I'd be surprised if this doesn't result in a legal challenge being launched, assuming one wasn't already in the works.

JamesT · Thursday at 10:52

Edvid said:
With Botley Road now open under the railway bridge OCC officially gave 28 days' notice of the congestion charge's termination on 21 September. According to a Bicester Town councillor they still intend to introduce the traffic filters on 28 September which, contrary to the notice, means that both schemes will technically run simultaneously for 3 weeks even though OCC won't enforce the congestion charge during that period.

Cllr Sam Holland

Another day, another administrative mess from Liberal Democrat Oxfordshire County Council. They’ve issued a notice today to end the temporary Oxford congestion charge – but their own legal order...

www.facebook.com

I'd be surprised if this doesn't result in a legal change being launched, assuming one wasn't already in the works.

As I've seen other people comment, they almost certainly waited for the bridge to be actually open before issuing the order. It would have been even more embarrassing if they'd scheduled the congestion charge to end when the bridge was supposed to open and Network Rail postponed again.

Edvid · Thursday at 11:08

JamesT said:
As I've seen other people comment, they almost certainly waited for the bridge to be actually open before issuing the order. It would have been even more embarrassing if they'd scheduled the congestion charge to end when the bridge was supposed to open and Network Rail postponed again.

Waiting until the road reopened to give official notice of ending the congestion charge - a perfectly valid argument as you've noted - is one thing.

Not letting 28 days elapse before introducing the traffic filters is another. That said I've since found their Made Traffic Regulation Orders page and the relevant Experimental TRO hasn't been issued yet so we'll soon see whether OCC change their minds and wait it out before doing so.

JamesT · Thursday at 11:16

Edvid said:
Waiting until the road reopened to give official notice of ending the congestion charge - a perfectly valid argument as you've noted - is one thing.

Not letting 28 days elapse before introducing the traffic filters is another. That said I've since found their Made Traffic Regulation Orders page and the relevant Experimental TRO hasn't been issued yet so we'll soon see whether OCC change their minds and wait it out before doing so.

There are signs up on approach roads saying the filters start next week and I've just had an email saying my permits will be automatically converted.

Edvid · Thursday at 11:23

JamesT said:
There are signs up on approach roads saying the filters start next week and I've just had an email saying my permits will be automatically converted.

Looked some more and the ETRO (on a separate Let's Talk Oxfordshire page for the filters) was actually made a month ago, so that tallies.

fishwomp · Thursday at 11:50

Edvid said:
Waiting until the road reopened to give official notice of ending the congestion charge - a perfectly valid argument as you've noted - is one thing.

Not letting 28 days elapse before introducing the traffic filters is another. That said I've since found their Made Traffic Regulation Orders page and the relevant Experimental TRO hasn't been issued yet so we'll soon see whether OCC change their minds and wait it out before doing so.

It'd be hard to have missed the news about the filters. Whilst precise date was always going to be in flux - I can't see anyone feeling uninformed of the outcome. I don't see why a 28 day wait would be desirable - enlighten me..

Edvid · Thursday at 12:02

fishwomp said:
I don't see why a 28 day wait would be desirable - enlighten me..

If there's a legal challenge down the road then letting the full notice period elapse will be one less thing the scheme's opponents use to try to claim the scheme is illegal / unenforceable / etc. As we've seen there was a (failed) legal challenge against the congestion charge so I'd surprised if one wasn't lodged against the filters under whatever justification they claim.

djox · Thursday at 17:03

OCC have already said they will only be sending warning letter for first offense in first six months, what will happen is for those 3 weeks until everything is past the legal notice date they'll either just send everyone warning letters even if you go through multiple times or they won't send any for those first 3weeks, exactly as they did when Congestion charge started. They won't publicise that though or everyone will ignore filters.

tomoufc · Thursday at 19:44

Edvid said:
If there's a legal challenge down the road then letting the full notice period elapse will be one less thing the scheme's opponents use to try to claim the scheme is illegal / unenforceable / etc. As we've seen there was a (failed) legal challenge against the congestion charge so I'd surprised if one wasn't lodged against the filters under whatever justification they claim.

They would need to raise another tens of thousands of pounds. Funds for the last legal challenge weren’t held, but donated to charity, I seem to recall.

johncrossley · Thursday at 19:53

Is there a fund to support the traffic filters if legal action takes place?

tomoufc · Thursday at 19:59

johncrossley said:
Is there a fund to support the traffic filters if legal action takes place?

The traffic filters are funded by permits and fines, no?

johncrossley · Thursday at 20:02

tomoufc said:
The traffic filters are funded by permits and fines, no?

Presumably legal action isn't part of the standard budget.

tomoufc · Friday at 08:49

johncrossley said:
Presumably legal action isn't part of the standard budget.

No, but the council are very unlikely to lose, and so would not have to pay a penny.

Snow1964 · Friday at 09:23

djox said:
OCC have already said they will only be sending warning letter for first offense in first six months, what will happen is for those 3 weeks until everything is past the legal notice date they'll either just send everyone warning letters even if you go through multiple times or they won't send any for those first 3weeks, exactly as they did when Congestion charge started. They won't publicise that though or everyone will ignore filters.

Similar thing happened near where I used to live, did the legal bit for new restrictions, but there was a problem with installing the signs, so council just stayed quiet and didn't enforce it until signage was fixed couple of weeks later, then the enforcement camera was enabled

cactustwirly · Friday at 18:43

So basically they are making the car park at the Westgate redundant

Bletchleyite · 2026-09-27T18:13:11+0100

cactustwirly said:
So basically they are making the car park at the Westgate redundant

How? You can get to it from the ring road without passing a filter.

I'm not in favour of this harebrained scheme for multiple reasons, but like with objections to EVs on that thread and card payments on that one we really should be sticking to correct and valid objections - there are enough of them!

ox_chap · 2026-09-27T18:21:47+0100

I tried registering with OCC today because I occasionally have to travel around town by car, but the site doesn't work (it isn't sending me an email to confirm my account and set a password). [EDIT - the emails went to junk].

johncrossley · 2026-09-27T18:22:40+0100

Bletchleyite said:
I'm not in favour of this harebrained scheme for multiple reasons, but like with objections to EVs on that thread and card payments on that one we really should be sticking to correct and valid objections - there are enough of them!

What are your reasons and what would you have instead?

Proposed Congestion Charge to access Oxford Station

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Traffic filter trial to start on 14 September