A council has announced that it will be launching its controversial new congestion charge earlier than anticipated in a move that could impact thousands of drivers.
Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed that the new congestion charge will begin on Wednesday, October 29, despite initial beliefs that the scheme would be introduced no later than November 10.
The council has launched a permit portal for the temporary congestion charge, which will reduce traffic in the city during National Rail's extended closure of Botley Road.
The congestion charge will see drivers charged £5 per day if they do not have a permit to enter any of the six impacted roads across the city.
The charge will be payable once a day and will allow motorists to travel through multiple locations, or any single charge location, as many times as they want every day.
Only cars are liable to pay the congestion charge fee, with vans, motorbikes and buses being automatically exempt from the temporary congestion charge scheme.
Councill Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said the city needed to slash the number of vehicles on the road in order to "thrive".
He added: "I am delighted that we have now reached this important milestone in implementing the temporary congestion charge in Oxford.
Oxford's congestion charge will launch earlier than anticipated on Wednesday, October 29
|PA
"Together with the significant reduction in congestion that we will see with the temporary charge, the permits will enable those who need to make trips by car, to do so much more easily."
The Liberal Democrat councillor for Wolvercote and Cutteslowe thanked local residents who participated in the consultation over the summer.
The congestion charge is being introduced following a two-month consultation period, which heard from residents, businesses and organisations who are likely to be affected.
The feedback created two new permit types to allow free travel for members of sports clubs or military training, as well as for cars that are owned and operated by businesses and organisations within Oxford.
The six streets marked in green will be part of Oxford's congestion charge scheme
|OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
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This is in addition to existing permits for residents, blue badge holders, community health and care workers, mobile traders, patients with frequent hospital visits, and several other groups.
The congestion charge will be active from Monday to Sunday between 7am and 7pm on Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street and Thames Street.
It will also be in place on Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 7am and 9am, and again between 3pm and 6pm.
Any money raised by the congestion charge will fund public transport options and more local travel connections.
Oxford's Zero Emission Zone was launched in February 2022 | PAThe council stated that this could include free or discounted parking at park and ride sites, cheaper bus fares and improved bus services.
When applying for a permit, drivers will need to provide evidence of their eligibility, including proof of address, the V5C logbook for their car or a valid Blue Badge.
Oxfordshire County Council outlined that the scheme will remain in place until it launches the traffic filters trial when Botley Road reopens.
This is expected to be in August 2026, although the council stated that the maximum time the congestion charge scheme will be operational is two years.