24/09/2026
If you didn't like the Congestion Charge - Traffic Filters are even worse! 😠
From next Monday Oxford's Congestion Charge will become Oxford's Traffic Filters!
One bit of good news is that if you're an Oxfordshire resident who has already signed up for a Congestion Charge permit, then your permit will automatically be converted so there is nothing more to do.
But that's about the end of the good news.
If you live in Oxfordshire (but outside the City) you will be allowed to drive wherever you like in Oxford for a maximum of 25 days per year. After that you can technically reach everywhere but only via prescribed routes, avoiding the traffic filters.
So if there's heavy traffic on one bit of the ring road (as a result of traffic filters perhaps), roadworks or an accident, you may simply not be able to reach parts of the city.
Once you've used your limited number of days the council says you'll be allowed to use all of the city's roads, you will no longer be able pay to the £5 congestion charge - it will be an immediate fine (£70) for anyone who drives through the traffic filters.
For anyone who lives outside of the county, they cannot access permits and will be prohibited from using certain routes.
Businesses in the city have already highlighted the impact the Congestion Charge has had on trade, the Traffic Filters will only make this worse.
There are of course exemptions for several categories of people - interestingly including firefighters using their personal vehicles, but not police officers doing the same. 👨🚒👮♂️
This is technically a trial limited to 18 months, but no-one believes that Oxfordshire County Council intends for this to be anything less than permanent. What we might see in the future is tinkering at the edges, and possibly fewer "day passes" for residents.
To add to the chaos the Council seems to have been late issuing the legal notice that will end the congestion charge regulations. They have to give 28 days notice, but the order was only published yesterday, raising real questions about the legal position of Oxfordshire County Council to actually enforce the new Traffic Filters! 🤷♂️
On a practical note, whether you like it or not, if you're an Oxfordshire resident it is still worth applying for a permit if you haven't done so already: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/oxford-traffic-filters/apply-traffic-filter-permits 🔗
