The Labour Party strongly opposes today’s decision to introduce a temporary congestion charge in Oxford.
Anneliese Dodds MP and Labour Councillors on the City and County Councils have all been saying since the Liberal Democrats came up with this scheme, that the people of Oxford need cheaper and more accessible public transport, action on private school traffic, and the Cowley Branch Line reopened to passengers. They need to be listened to rather than ignored by the County Council, which took this decision about the congestion charge over our heads.
Oxfordshire County Council’s scheme is not thought through. It will affect local businesses and families already struggling with the cost of living.
Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East said: “It seems that the largest proportion of revenue from the scheme is going to be ploughed into a Park & Ride measure that will uniquely benefit residents from outside the city. This seems extremely unfair. The consultation showed that the most popular use of monies from the charge was to reduce the cost of bus travel for all (and not just car drivers from outside Oxford).”
“Oxford is not London – because of our geography and also because our public transport isn’t up to London’s standard. The County should have focused on improving public transport and other measures in the city instead of this kneejerk scheme”.
Cllr Liz Brighouse, Leader of the Oxfordshire County Labour Group, said: “Residents will now have to either pay a congestion charge to get around their own community, or go miles around the by-pass which is already congested. Many of the journeys they make are essential: including school journeys (190 days a year) with vulnerable children, getting to the pharmacy or post office, and families checking on older relatives. This decision is unacceptable.”
Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of the Oxford City Labour Group, said: “Today the Liberal Democrat cabinet on Oxfordshire County Council have chosen to ignore the views of the residents of Oxford, the City Council, and Anneliese Dodds MP to impose their charge. I am very disappointed but sadly not surprised. This is further proof that we need a Greater Oxford council so that the city can make our own decisions about the issues that affect us most.”
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Notes to editors:
According to the County Council’s own Equality Impact Assessment of the Oxford Congestion Charge, single parents may be disproportionately affected, as would more car-dependent groups like families with young children, older people, and disabled people without Blue Badges.
The County Council’s modelling indicates that 1 in every 2 journeys on Hollow Way will attract a charge, making Cowley residents some of the hardest hit.
Modelling of the scheme also appears to indicate that the charge will only result in 41 additional Park & Ride journeys per day.
Documents available at https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/congestion-charge