Drivers hit with £5 charge as council splashes £4.2m on free buses and transport perks

Hemma Visavadia
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:21:43 +0000

Drivers who have been fined £5 as part of a new congestion charge could soon see more bus services and transport improvements after millions were raised in fines.

Oxfordshire County Council is considering how to spend £4.2million generated by the scheme, which was introduced last year to ease traffic and improve air quality.

One of the main proposals is to extend free park and ride bus services until the end of December, even though the scheme is expected to end on May 31.

Under the offer, up to two adults and three children with a valid parking ticket can travel for free on services run by Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel.

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Healthcare staff and teachers working in Oxford may be given nine months of free weekday parking at park and ride sites from June 1, as well as free bus travel.

The council is also looking at introducing dedicated express park and ride routes linking directly to hospital sites. These would run for a year from October if approved.

Proposals include improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, with funding potentially earmarked for new crossings, better side road layouts and secure cycle storage.

People taking part in the council's "Connect to Work" programme may also receive six months of free bus travel during the 2026 to 2027 period.

Early data suggested the congestion charge is already having some impact. Monitoring in December 2025 showed improvements in traffic flow and journey times on key routes, including Abingdon Road.

However, some outer roads have seen an increase in traffic, while footfall in the city centre has risen slightly.

Data from Queen Street showed a one per cent increase compared with the same time the year before, in contrast to a national drop of more than 1.5 per cent.

Councillor Andrew Gant said the council could not directly link the rise in footfall to the congestion charge.

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He stated: "The temporary congestion charge is giving residents and visitors to the city faster journeys, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets."

He added that he was pleased the council could now look at reinvesting the money into further transport improvements, including better access to hospital sites.

"It's my hope that some lasting benefits from the temporary congestion charge will also support the transition to the traffic filters trial after Botley Road reopens," he shared.

Speaking previously in December 2025, Mr Gant said residents had already noticed positive changes, with an uptick in cycling and walking.

The congestion charge currently applies at six locations across Oxford, and drivers without a permit must pay £5 per day to pass through the zones.

Some routes operate only during peak hours, while others run from 7am to 7pm every day. Residents, traders, carers and Blue Badge holders can apply for permits allowing free access.

The scheme was brought in as a temporary measure while Botley Road remains closed, which has delayed the introduction of a planned traffic filter trial.

The congestion charge is expected to stay in place until the road reopens, which is currently anticipated for this summer.