Drivers may need permits to drive in Oxford and only for 100 days

Motorists planning on driving through Oxford may need special permits, if the local council goes through with its proposals. Oxfordshire County Council said that households would be given permits allowing them to drive across the city on 100 days a year per vehicle. 

The scheme will be policed by ANPR cameras at “traffic filter” locations across the city.

When the filters are in place, private cars will not be allowed through them without a permit.

All other vehicles, however, including buses, coaches, taxis, vans, mopeds, motorbikes and HGVs will be allowed at all times.

The cost of implementing the scheme is estimated to be £3million and will be largely funded by a bus service improvement plan grant.

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Another wrote: “Using all the tickets, it would only allow me to drive into and out of work one day per week during the year. I bet they’ll then start selling more tickets or cutting the number you get. The Government is cutting money for public transport improvements so all we’re going to be left with is a bunch of roads we aren’t allowed to use.”

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways management, said the plans are part of a “vision for a vastly improved Oxford”.

He added: “We want to improve lives, transport and health for the people that live and work here. We have done a lot of modelling to reach these locations and we want to encourage people to choose to use their cars less.

“This is not about being anti-car, it’s about managing the way we use our roads so that they are safe for everyone. It’s about designing Oxford for the next decades and we want to hear from everyone. I would encourage people to comment and take part in the consultation, especially people who would not normally think about going online and commenting on it.”