Politics · United Kingdom · 3 hrs ago
Oxford traffic filters blamed for city-centre gridlock and business disruption
Oxfordshire County Council introduced traffic filters at six points in Oxford on September 28, restricting when drivers can pass without a permit.
The rules operate at different hours depending on the road, and drivers who pass through without a valid permit can be fined £70.
Motorists and business leaders blame the filters for longer journeys, heavy traffic and fewer visitors to the city centre.
One mother said she was stuck in the Westgate Shopping Centre car park for three hours with her two young children.
The council says the weekend gridlock was caused by the Half Marathon, while the Oxford Bus Company also reported disruption.
The filters are intended to reduce congestion, but critics say they are making Oxford harder to reach and hurting its businesses.
The source gives no further details about what the council plans to do next.
Oxford residents and business leaders say new traffic filters have worsened congestion and disrupted access to the city centre.
Oxfordshire County Council introduced the filters on September 28, with £70 fines for drivers who pass through restricted points without a permit.
Motorists reported long delays on October 11, when Oxford also held its Half Marathon.
A mother said she was stuck in the Westgate Shopping Centre car park for three hours with her two young children.
The council said the weekend’s traffic problems were caused by the Half Marathon, while the Oxford Bus Company reported disruption and cited roadworks.
- Who
- Oxfordshire County Council introduced the scheme. Residents, business leaders and the Oxford Bus Company have described traffic and business disruption.
- What
- Traffic filters restrict vehicles at six points, with fines for unauthorised drivers passing through during operating hours.
- When
- The scheme came into force on September 28. Motorists reported severe delays on Sunday, October 11.
- Where
- Oxford, including streets around the city centre and the Westgate Shopping Centre car park.
- Why
- The council says the filters are intended to reduce congestion. Critics say they have increased delays and made the city harder to reach.
Oxfordshire County Council
Critics including residents and business leaders
Purpose and impact
Oxfordshire County Council
The council says the scheme is intended to reduce congestion.
Critics including residents and business leaders
Critics say the filters have worsened traffic and made access to the city centre difficult.
Cause of October 11 delays
Oxfordshire County Council
The council said the weekend’s chaos was caused by the Half Marathon.
Critics including residents and business leaders
Some motorists and residents blamed the traffic filters for the delays.
Low-traffic neighbourhoods were first introduced in Oxford to prevent cars from using residential streets as shortcuts.
Oxfordshire County Council brought the new traffic-filter scheme into force.
Oxford held its Half Marathon as motorists reported lengthy delays, including at the Westgate Shopping Centre car park.
- Restricted points
- Six
- Standard filter hours
- 7am to 7pm
- Peak-hour filter locations
- Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way
- Fine
- £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days
- Westgate car park delay
- Three hours reported by one mother
- Permit scheme start
- September 28
What people are saying
No wonder there are so many shops boarded up in Oxford. It's both too expensive and too difficult to travel into.
I firmly believe the traffic filters were to blame.
reduce
a lot of disruption