oxfordshire county council travel zones

Traffic filters, LTNs, ZEZ, WPL… an introduction to Oxford’s traffic initiatives

From traffic filters and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) to zero emission zone (ZEZ) and workplace parking levies, here’s just about all you need to know about Oxford’s key traffic initiatives.

About Oxford’s traffic initiatives

Controversial or otherwise, you may have noticed an ever-increasing mention of Oxford’s traffic initiatives or transport schemes in local news media. Various traffic initiatives are being implemented across Oxford, and we’ll explain what they are, but first, some background.

The Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan

Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for highway management in the county, including across Oxford city. The council has put together a Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan that is essentially a set of proposals that aim to make Oxford and surrounding villages a safer, greener place to live, work and visit.

The Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan is part of a countywide Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP).

The LTCP sets a clear vision to deliver a net-zero transport system that enables Oxfordshire to thrive, protects the environment and makes the county a better place for all residents to live.

It includes ambitious targets such as:

• cutting car trips by a quarter by 2030
• delivering a net-zero transport network by 2040 and
• eradicating road fatalities or life-changing injuries by 2050

Why is it needed?

Oxford is very much a historic city with limited road space. So, to alleviate congestion, the council is looking at how individual car journeys can take a back seat so that space-efficient travel options, like zero-emission buses, taxis, and delivery vans, can become the norm. 

Average bus speeds in Oxford have been declining on key routes to and from the city centre and employment sites, with only 8mph achieved between the JR hospital and city centre via Cowley Centre during weekday peaks.

Additionally, certain parts of the city regularly breach the legal emission levels, so the council needs to rapidly reduce carbon emissions from all transport-related activities.

There is also the impact of growth to consider. From 2011 to 2031, 100,000 new homes will be built in Oxfordshire, with at least 15,000 in and around Oxford to help with the city’s unmet housing need. Based on current trends, the increased demand for movement in the area will exacerbate congestion in future years. 

What is proposed?

Given the issues highlighted above, the council is looking to put in place measures that ensure buses are fast, affordable and reliable, where people can walk and cycle in pleasant and safe environments, and where high-polluting traffic is unnecessary.

More specifically, the council has put forward a set of 22 actions to help achieve a sustainable and reliable transport system across the Central Oxfordshire area, including some significant transport proposals for Oxford city.

From traffic filters and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) to zero emission zone (ZEZ) and workplace parking levies, here’s just about all you need to know about Oxford’s key traffic initiatives. These traffic initiatives or transport schemes are part of wider proposals to encourage sustainable travel and reduce congestion in the city.

Traffic filters

Six traffic filters will be trialled on certain roads (Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, Marston Ferry Road, St Cross Road, Hollow Way, and St Clements) to reduce traffic congestion, improve bus journey times and create safer routes for cyclists and pedestrians.

These traffic filters (also commonly referred to as ‘bus gates’), are expected to:

• Reduce traffic levels by around 20 per cent across the city inside the ring road and around 35 per cent in the city centre.
• Increase bus and park and ride use by up to 10 per cent.
• Enable new and improved bus routes.
• Reduce road accidents by around 34 per year.
• Reduce annual carbon emissions associated with road transport by 6%.
• Increase walking and cycling trips by around 10 per cent.

Read more: Six traffic filters to be trialled across Oxford city

The barriers, equipped with surveillance cameras, will prevent private cars from travelling through much of the city centre without a permit between 7.00am and 7.00pm every day, apart from the traffic filters on Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, which will not operate on Sundays.

Exempt vehicles 2 and other vehicle types, including buses, coaches, taxis, vans, mopeds and HGVs, will have access at all times.

A zoomable map of the traffic filter locations is shown below. Click on the points on the map to see the proposed days and times of operation.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved the plans for the six traffic filters to be trialled in Oxford at a meeting on Tuesday, 29 November 2002.

Read more: Oxford’s traffic filters: Your frequently asked questions answered

Zero Emission Zone

The Zero Emission Zone or ZEZ is a stricter type of Clean Air Zones that can be found in other cities like London, Birmingham and Bristol. The ZEZ aims to reduce inner-city air pollution even further by only allowing zero-emissions vehicles to drive in the city centre without incurring a charge.

Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone pilot came into force on 28 February 2022, covering a limited number of streets in the city centre. The councils propose to extend the ZEZ from the current pilot area to cover most of the city centre in 2023, subject to further public consultation.

Charges will be payable by all vehicles unless they emit zero emissions or have a 100 per cent discount or exemption. Income from the scheme will be used to pay for its development and operation. It will also support initiatives for the transition to zero-emission transportation in the city.

Read more: All you need to know about Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot

Workplace parking levy

The Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) is an annual charge to businesses for staff parking spaces at their premises, and the council is proposing that the levy covers employers across the city council’s administrative area, i.e. within the Oxford ring road.

Only businesses with 11 or more staff parking spaces in Oxford would pay the WPL. The licence will be free for employers with 10 or fewer parking spaces. Also, Blue badge holder spaces, visitor parking, customer parking and operational spaces (including those used for emergency services) are excluded.

The WPL is expected to affect approximately 130 businesses in Oxford, but the actual number will depend on the final scheme design. These businesses can decide to pass some or all of the charge to their employees that drive to work.

By law, money raised by the levy must be spent on improving transport in the city.

Low traffic neighbourhoods 

A Low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) is an area where motorised traffic is prevented from taking shortcuts through an adjacent residential area using traffic filters like bollards and planters.

The aim is to create quieter and safer streets where residents may feel safer and more comfortable when making local journeys by bus, by cycle or on foot.

In March 2021, the first LTN trial scheme – the Cowley LTNs – was introduced to Church Cowley, Temple Cowley, and Florence Park. Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet decided to make them “permanent” on 19 July 2022, despite public opposition from several residents and local businesses, including several high-profile business people.

A trial of East Oxford LTNs (covering Divinity Road, St Clement’s, and St Mary’s areas) under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) 1 , which began in May 2022. The county council’s cabinet will decide whether to make the trial scheme permanent or remove it in the summer/autumn of 2023.

Further LTNs were proposed in the Headington and Quarry areas, which include New Headington, Old Headington, and Quarry areas, to reduce traffic movement in residential streets and encourage more sustainable methods of travel in those areas.

The development of proposals has been delayed, and it was decided to incorporate the scheme into the wider transport strategy. Although the council did not provide a reason for this decision, it is widely considered to be because of an unprecedented backlash from the Headington community.

LTNs have predominantly been implemented in the East Oxford area, making it just about impossible to cut through any side street on Cowley Road. And although these streets remain accessible, drivers may have to find alternative routes.

Overall though, questions remain around whether LTNs have evidently reduced traffic across the city and improved the air quality for everyone.

We’ll keep this page updated with further development about Oxford’s traffic initiatives as new information comes in.

Have you been affected by Oxford’s traffic initiatives? Please share your experiences by completing the form below. We’d like to hear if you have any comments and feedback too. 

1 An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) is a legal process which allows the council to introduce the LTNs as a trial. The ETRO will last for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 18 months.

2 An exempt vehicle means any vehicle in the service of or employed by the fire, police or ambulance services when on an emergency call, or a police vehicle on patrol.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan (COTP)?

The Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan has been developed by Oxfordshire County Council as part of its countywide Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP).

The LTCP, approved by council in July 2022, sets a clear vision to deliver a net-zero transport system that enables Oxfordshire to thrive, protects the environment and makes the county a better place to live for all residents.

As part of the LTCP a series of area, corridor and other transport plans are in development.

The COTP is the first area travel plan to be developed.

What is the Central Oxfordshire Area?

The plan area covers the urban area of Oxford, the immediate movement and connectivity corridors to and from the city, as well as the main villages that lie on these corridors (Kidlington, Eynsham, Botley, Cumnor, Kennington and Wheatley).

What is the COTP proposing?

The draft Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan sets out our vision to develop a world-leading, innovative, inclusive and carbon neutral transport system with a focus on how people move quickly and safely around the area.

We are proposing a set of 22 actions to help achieve a sustainable and reliable transport system across the Central Oxfordshire area, including three major transport proposals for Oxford City: traffic filters, a workplace parking levy and zero emission zone.

The three key projects will be consulted on in more detail and separately to the area travel plan.

What are the targets of the COTP?

The targets for Central Oxfordshire are the same as those of the council’s agreed Local Transport and Connectivity Plan for the county:

By 2030 our target is to:  

• Replace or remove 1 out of every 4 current car trips in Oxfordshire 
• Increase the number of cycle trips in Oxfordshire from 600,000 to 1 million cycle trips per week.  
• Reduce road fatalities or life changing injuries by 50%. 

By 2040 our targets are to: 

• Deliver a net-zero transport network.
• Replace or remove an additional 1 out of 3 car trips in Oxfordshire. 

By 2050 our targets are to: 

• Deliver a transport network that contributes to a climate positive future.  
• Have zero, or as close as possible, road fatalities or life-changing injuries.

What are the intended outcomes from the COTP?

The Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan seeks to create:

• A flagship comprehensive zero emission bus network , able to travel at the speed limit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week  
• A comprehensive, safe cycle network , to rival the best in Europe. 
• Beautifully designed streets and public spaces , with clean air. 
• A reduced impact of private vehicles where roads are congestion-free for residents, visitors, and businesses to make essential journeys in zero emission vehicles. 
• Carbon neutral transport for a carbon neutral city. Prioritising measures and approaches that utilise minimal resources. 
• A transport hierarchy prioritising sustainable travel and promoting 20-minute neighbourhoods where everything people need for their daily lives can be found within a 20-minute walk.
• Improved safety  realised through a Vision Zero approach to transport safety across the area
• An inclusive transport network that improves accessibility for all of our residents.

What is the transport vision?

A clear long-term ambition for transport in the county is set out in the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan, which the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan seeks to replicate as part of the travel plan for Oxford, Kidlington, Eynsham, Botley, Cumnor, Kennington and Wheatley. The vision is:

“Our Local Transport and Connectivity Plan vision is for an inclusive and safe net-zero Oxfordshire transport system that enables all parts of the county to thrive.

It will tackle inequality, be better for health, wellbeing and social inclusivity and have zero road fatalities or life-changing injuries. It will also enhance our natural and historic environment and enable the county to be one of the world’s leading innovation economies.

Our plan sets out to achieve this by reducing the need to travel and private car use through making walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice."

How will delivery of the plan be funded?

Funding for proposals in the Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan (COTP) can come from a range of sources including the Department for Transport and other national and local bidding opportunities; council resources including parking income; Community Infrastructure Levy and s106 developer funding contributions and more. It’s important to note that much of this funding is ring-fenced for specific transport uses only.

As part of the draft COTP, we are proposing a Workplace Parking Levy to cover businesses with 11 or more staff parking spaces inside the Oxford ring road.

As well as the potential to reduce car trips, by law, the funds generated by a Workplace Parling Levy must be used to improve transport in and around the city.

What is the transport hierarchy?

Transport planning in Oxfordshire is determined by a transport hierarchy as approved by council in the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan. The hierarchy seeks to reduce the need to travel, by creating greater choice for all that discourages individual private vehicle journeys and makes walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice.

What is Vision Zero?

In order to improve road safety for all we have adopted a vision zero approach as part of our county-wide transport plan. The aim of vision zero is to have zero road fatalities or life-changing injuries on Oxfordshire’s transport system by 2050.

What are transport hubs?

A place where there is a range of different shared and public transport modes. They also include additional facilities and information features to both attract and benefit transport users. For example, a transport hub may combine shared bikes (including electric bike or motorcycle), shared cars, parcel delivery lockers and bus stops in one location. Oxfordshire’s existing park and ride sites are already versions of the transport hub concept.

What is a 20-minute neighbourhood?

The creation of compact and connected neighbourhoods where everyday facilities and amenities are within a short walk or cycle trip from home; ideally a 20-minute return walking trip.

Why is there not more detail in the draft COTP plan about specific schemes?

The draft plan seeks to set out the overarching direction of travel for the approach to managing transport in Central Oxfordshire. Specific schemes will be consulted on, as appropriate, as they are developed. There are three core schemes (traffic filters, a Workplace Parking Levy and expanded Zero Emission Zone) that form part of the draft plan which we will consult on separately.

How will the plan be monitored?

A set of key performance indicators have been identified, including monitoring the percentage of residents walking/cycling; bus journey times, bus passenger numbers, transport emissions, number of car trips, years of healthy life lost due to air pollution, number of park and ride passenger journeys, car ownership, percentage of adults / children meeting physical activity recommendations and road/footway and cycle path maintenance.

How can I find out more information?

Email: [email protected] if you have further questions or issues.

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Oxford traffic filters: Questions answered

Frequently asked questions about traffic filters

General questions

What’s a traffic filter.

A traffic filter is a point on a road which certain types of traffic aren’t allowed through at certain times. The six trial traffic filters starting in autumn 2024 only restrict cars: all other types of vehicles can travel through the filters at any time, without a permit.

Permits are available for some cars (see questions on permits below).

The aim of the traffic filters is to reduce traffic levels and congestion – leading to faster and more reliable buses, safer cycling and a range of other  benefits .

When is the trial expected to start and how long will it last?

The traffic filters trial will begin in November when Botley Road is expected to reopen after the closure needed for Network Rail’s improvements to Oxford rail station. 

The trial, under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), can run for a maximum of 18 months.

How have you chosen the locations for the traffic filters?

The locations of the traffic filters have been informed by transport modelling, traffic data analysis and highway design considerations. Traffic filter locations are designed to reduce traffic across the city and not just at the point where the traffic filter is located. The locations have been strategically chosen, so that a traffic filter in one location may also lead to greater traffic reduction in other areas across the city.

For example, the traffic filter on Thames Street is not primarily aimed at reducing traffic on Thames Street (which has no buses); it is designed to reduce traffic on Abingdon Road and Botley Road.

Questions about permits

How do i apply for my permit.

You will be able to apply for a permit online. We are currently developing the online permit system, which is expected to go live in summer 2024, well ahead of the trial start. For people unable to apply online, help will be available by telephone through our Customer Service Centre. 

We’ll provide detailed guidance on how, where, and when to apply in the next few months ahead of the start of the trial.

You will need to provide evidence of your eligibility, for example, proof of address, holding a Blue Badge, or working as a health or care worker.

How do I find out if I can get a permit or exemption?

Any vehicle that is not a car will be automatically exempt from the traffic filters and will not need to apply for a permit. 

If a vehicle looks like a car, it is usually classed as one by the DVLA. However, if in doubt the  DVLA’s vehicle checker can be used. If the “Vehicle type approval” in the DVLA checker is “M1” the vehicle is a car and will need a permit for the traffic filters. If it’s anything else no permit is required. If it’s blank, you’ll need to check the vehicle’s  V5C.

A full list of permits and related restrictions is available on our website.  Follow this link for details  

How much will the traffic filter permits cost?

Nothing. All traffic filter permits are free. 

How have you decided the boundaries of the residential permit areas and number of permitted days?

Permits for residents were added to the scheme following feedback in several public consultations. The Oxford permit area is designed to include the areas most affected by the route changes required to avoid the traffic filters, which is why 100 pass days are provided in this area per year.

Residents in the Oxfordshire permit area may be less affected by the filters, so a smaller number of pass days (25 per year) will be provided. 

Trips coming from outside Oxfordshire will not generally be significantly affected, as any route changes required to avoid the filters will be a small proportion of the overall journey.

Questions about access

How does a traffic filter stop people from driving through.

The traffic filters will not be physical road closures. They will be monitored by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Cars going through without a permit can be identified. 

Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days). 

There will be traffic signs at the filters and on routes approaching them showing the times when the filter is in operation and vehicles that are allowed to travel through.

I need to drive for my journey. How will I be able to do that?

All parts of the city will be accessible by car at all times. All drivers (even those without a permit) will still be able to access their destination by car. There will be no changes to car parking as a result of the traffic filter trial.

If your current driving route doesn’t take you through a traffic filter, or passes a filter but outside the hours of operation (7am to 7pm for most filters), your journey should be unaffected.

Some car journeys during the hours of operation of the scheme will need to take a different route, usually using the ring road. This may result in longer journey times.

Permits will be available for residents of Oxford and some nearby areas, allowing residents to drive their car through all the filter points on up to 100 days each year. This equates to an average of two days per week. 

Permits will be available for other residents in Oxfordshire allowing them to drive their car through all the filter points up to 25 days each year.

Journeys through traffic filters, especially to and through the city centre, are expected to be faster and more reliable for people who are using resident day passes or any of the various types of permits available.

Why are vans and heavy goods vehicles (HGV) able to pass through the filters?

This exemption has been provided for several reasons:

• Commercial vehicles like vans and HGVs are generally used to transport heavy or bulky goods or tools, and as a rule it’s more difficult and in many cases impossible to do this using alternative means such as public transport or even cargo bikes. 
• Commercial vehicles often make multiple stops in different parts of the city (e.g. tradespeople visiting several properties, or distribution companies delivering to multiple addresses).
• If commercial vehicles were not exempt, it’s likely some would arrive at filter locations and then need to u-turn to avoid the filter. There would be safety risks for other road users – particularly pedestrians and cyclists – if large vehicles were to u-turn in significant numbers. (The filters have been positioned and designed to accommodate turning cars safely, and advance signage will be in place to minimise the number of cars needing to turn).
• Exemptions for vans and HGVs will also limit the amount of traffic displaced to the ring road and A34.
• Our engagement with businesses in the city revealed that there were concerns about possible negative impact on the efficiency of delivery activity if commercial vehicles were not to be allowed through the filters.

We will continue to develop plans to minimise the need for large vehicles to deliver in the city, for example freight consolidation schemes.

Can motorbikes drive through the trial traffic filters?

Yes. All motorbikes and mopeds will be exempt from the trial traffic filters.

This is due to safety concerns about speed-limited mopeds using the ring road and A34. 

Will electric cars be able to drive through the trial traffic filters?

No. Private cars are not allowed through the filters unless they have a permit – even if they are electric. This is to ensure traffic filters deliver the desired traffic reduction and associated benefits.

What about all the vehicles that need to turn at the traffic filters?

All the traffic filters will be signed clearly in advance in line with government regulations. We expect only a small amount of traffic will need to turn around (i.e. those who have missed the advance signage). Since the traffic filters only restrict cars, large vehicles will not need to turn around at the filter points. 

The locations have been chosen carefully to ensure that any vehicles that do need to turn around can do so safely, in many cases by making a turn into a side road rather than turning in the road.

Questions about predicted impacts

Won’t restricting roads just create more congestion.

The purpose of the traffic filters is to reduce traffic congestion in Oxford, particularly on the city’s main bus and cycle routes.  Our traffic modelling forecasts a reduction in traffic on most major routes within the ring road, but some increases in traffic on parts of the ring road and the outer approaches to the ring road from within the city.  The scheme is expected to reduce traffic in the city because it will encourage people to:

• Switch to walking, cycling or public transport (including park and ride)
• Make more use of the ring road
• Drive less frequently, or at quieter times of day
• Share lifts

What traffic modelling has been carried out?

The development of the traffic filters proposals has been supported by transport modelling using the Oxfordshire Strategic Transport Model:

• The  Strategic assessment (pdf format, 2Mb)  outlines the expected impacts and benefits of the trial traffic filters and their role in achieving wider objectives and policy outcomes.
• The  Transport and traffic forecasting report (pdf format, 1.7Mb)  provides details of transport modelling carried out on the trial traffic filters proposal.
• The  Local model validation report (pdf format, 4.3Mb)  explains how the transport model was developed to predict impacts of transport plans and projects.

What are the expected impacts?

The development and assessment of the traffic filters has been supported by a range of modelling and analysis. Based on this, we expect that traffic filters will:

• reduce total traffic flows by around 20% across the city inside the ring road, and around 35% in the city centre during the morning and evening peak periods
• improve average bus journey times during the day by 6.5% across the Oxford SmartZone, which includes Oxford and surrounding areas 
• increase bus and park and ride use by up to 10%
• enable new and improved bus services, particularly in the “Eastern Arc” linking park and ride sites to destinations including Summertown, Oxford Science Park, Oxford Business Park, Brookes University, and the Headington hospitals
• reduce road casualties by around 34 per year, of which over half would be reduced cycle casualties
• lead to a 6% decrease in annual CO2 emissions associated with road transport in the city
• reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations along 76% of assessed roads and at 91% of existing monitoring locations, with the scheme not resulting in any exceedances of national air quality objectives
• increase cycling and walking trips by around 10%.

Won’t traffic filters just displace traffic and pollution elsewhere?

We expect the traffic filters to reduce traffic levels on most of the major routes within the Oxford ring road. Traffic is forecast to increase in some areas, for example on parts of the ring road and the approaches to it from within the city.

Many of the routes where traffic is forecast to increase have fewer or no bus services, and fewer pedestrians and cyclists. These outer routes also generally have lower levels of personal exposure to air pollution due to lower numbers of pedestrians, cyclists and dwellings close to the road.  

The effects of the filters will be monitored, including changes in traffic levels, air quality and road safety, numbers of bus passengers and cyclists among other things.

Car drivers will have to find a different route if they are not using a permit and their intended journey involves driving through a traffic filter site while it is operating e.g., across the city centre or from Headington to North Oxford using Marston Ferry Road. 

The trial will help us understand the impacts on traffic, air pollution and a range of other outcomes. Monitoring will take place on roads across the city including the ring road and A34. See our  monitoring and evaluation plan for more details.

If needed, we can make changes to the scheme, such as the timing of the filters, or amending the criteria for permits.

Will the traffic filters impact emergency vehicles?

Emergency vehicles will be exempt from the trial traffic filters. As traffic filters are expected to reduce congestion, emergency services should benefit overall as journeys across the city become quicker and more reliable.

Won’t this make it harder for businesses and their customers and staff, and the wider economy?

The purpose of the scheme is to improve access, as well as reduce the negative impacts of transport. Bus services should be quicker and more reliable. There will be no parts of the city that you will not be able to get to by car. People driving will still be able to get to their destination and there will be no changes to car parking as part of the traffic filter trial. 

Most visitors to Oxford city centre don’t come by car, so their journeys should be improved by the filters. Even those who drive may see little impact on overall journey times; congestion in the city is forecast to reduce so this should help offset some or all of the extra time taken to drive a longer route avoiding the filters.

We have been engaging with businesses since February 2022. We heard concerns about the impact of the proposals on their deliveries and that is one of the reasons why HGVs and other goods vehicles are exempt from the filters. The reduction in congestion within the ring road should, in most cases, reduce travel times for such trips.

The cost of living is rising, how can I afford to use public transport instead of driving?

Bus fares are currently lower than they have been for years thanks to the UK  Government’s £2 maximum fare scheme and the  park & ride fare deals offered by the councils and bus operators. 

A number of employers in Oxford also offer affordable bus travel deals for employees.

Bus travel is a cheaper alternative to owning and running a private car and can replace many journeys in the city. By making bus journeys faster, cheaper and more reliable, there may be less need for some residents to own a car. Some households could choose to save money by switching from using a private car to taking the bus - swapping their car-related expenditure for a much cheaper alternative and removing the financial pressures of owning, maintaining and running a car (or a second car).

I don’t own a car, will the traffic filters impact me?

Yes, they should make your journeys much better. Traffic filters are intended to help reduce congestion across Oxford, which would improve bus services, and help those who are reliant on them. Walking and cycling conditions should also become safer and more pleasant due to reduced traffic levels and better air quality.

Census data from 2021 showed that on average around a third of households in Oxford did not own a car. People who don't have access to a car or van are much more reliant on public transport to travel and to access places of work and education. If congestion in the city is not addressed, bus services will worsen and access to work and education will reduce. 

What will the trial mean for people working long shifts, including starting or finishing late?

The traffic filters on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road and St Clements will be in operation between 7am and 7pm. Outside those hours all vehicles will be able to pass through the filters. 

The filters on Hollow Way and Marston Ferry Road will be in operation at peak times 7-9am and 3-6pm, Monday to Saturday only.

We expect that non-car alternatives will improve, including new and improved bus services across the city’s Eastern Arc linking park and ride sites to destinations including Summertown, Oxford Science Park, Oxford Business Park, Brookes University, and the Headington hospitals. Many of those currently driving to work by car may choose to use bus or park and ride rather than drive using a less direct route. 

What will the trial mean for people already struggling with the cost of living pressures?

The individual impacts of the trial will be different depending on how people normally travel. During the trial, we will be listening to people through a public consultation to help us understand the trial's impacts. Cycling and walking are more affordable travel modes than owning or driving a car. People on lower incomes are less likely to have access to a car and are (nationally) twice as likely to use buses than those on higher incomes; they are therefore likely to benefit from the intended improvements. 

Across Oxford, around a third of households do not have access to a car and so rely on buses, walking, cycling, scooters and taxis for transport.

What impact will the trial have on travel from other areas of the county into the city?

Traffic filters are an important measure designed to achieve our countywide transport plan and vision.

Buses: The six traffic filters should improve overall bus journey times and reliability for all services between other districts and Oxford, including park and ride and longer distance bus services to Oxford.

Cycling: Traffic filters should make cycling safer and more attractive to and within Oxford. A sizeable proportion of people living in and around Oxford already cycle into the city. This number is expected to increase because of the improvements expected from the traffic filters and other county-wide transport investments that support cycling.

Car journeys: Car journeys within districts outside Oxford will be largely unaffected by the traffic filters, although the Oxford ring road might be busier at certain times of the day.  Drivers coming into Oxford from the surrounding districts will still be able to reach all parts of Oxford by car without passing through a traffic filter but may need to change route which may increase their journey times.  Residents in Oxfordshire can apply for a permit, allowing them to drive through the filters on up to 25 days a year (around twice a month).

What impact will the trial have on people who have daily responsibilities for looking after other people, for example, dropping children off at nursery or visiting the sick or elderly?

While the traffic filters should create safer, healthier streets for residents and visitors, they may lengthen journey times for some people and certain journeys that rely upon private car travel. 

Free permits will be available for care and health workers, unpaid carers and Blue Badge holders. 

Permits to drive private cars through the traffic filters will be available for people living in and around Oxford (for up to 100 days per year) and living in Oxfordshire (for up to 25 days per year). 

An  equalities impact assessment (EIA) has been carried out for the proposals. The EIA has been informed by direct engagement with Oxford City Council’s Inclusive Transport and Movement focus group. The group is comprised of people with experience of living, working and travelling with a disability in Oxford. It includes organisations such as KEEN Oxford, Wheels for Wellbeing, the Free Thinking Network, the University of Oxford, Ruskin College Oxford, and the Sensory Impairment Team at Oxfordshire County Council. 

On-going monitoring and engagement during the trial (ETRO) period will be used to update the EIA and may result in further changes to the proposals.

Questions about wider transport policy

How do traffic filters fit with low traffic neighbourhoods.

Traffic filters and  low traffic neighbourhoods  (LTNs) should work together to reduce traffic across the city, make bus journeys quicker and more reliable and walking and cycling safer and more attractive. LTNs will complement the strategic filters by limiting the number of motor vehicles taking shortcuts through residential areas.

Will the rules about timing of operation, exemptions and permits for the six new traffic filters trial also be applied to existing traffic restrictions, like the High Street bus gate?

No. The rules about timing of operation, exemptions and permits will only apply to the six new traffic filters. However, we will monitor the impact of the new traffic filters on the wider transport network. If changes are shown to be needed at the new or existing traffic restriction points, then we will consider them carefully.

What is the difference between traffic filters and bus gates?

Traffic filters are designed to reduce car traffic on key roads right across the city, to make bus journeys faster and make walking and cycling safer and more attractive while also still allowing access through the filters for many other road users. 

Bus gates are designed to remove nearly all traffic except buses and are not located on major traffic routes.  Bus gates generally only allow local buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, and emergency services.

Why are you prioritising buses and cyclists over cars?

The Oxfordshire  Local Transport and Connectivity Plan  (LTCP), which was adopted by the county council in July 2022, and  Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan (COTP) set out a vision to deliver a net-zero Oxfordshire transport and travel system that enables the county to thrive while protecting the environment and making Oxfordshire a better place to live for all residents.

As the county continues to grow, more people will need to travel into and around the city and there won’t be space for them. Traffic would get worse. This means our transport system needs to rely on more space-efficient modes of transport than cars carrying a single driver: public and shared transport, walking and cycling.

Traffic filters should reduce traffic levels and congestion which in turn should free up the limited road space available in Oxford to create a place where buses are fast, affordable, and reliable, and where people can walk and cycle in a pleasant and safe environment.

Permits will be available in several cases for people who need to continue to use their car to get around.  See more about permits. .

What has happened to your proposals for a workplace parking levy and zero emission zone?

A  zero emission zone (ZEZ) pilot was launched in the city centre in February 2022.

The county council is now working on proposals to expand the ZEZ to a wider area in the city centre. We are engaging with stakeholders while developing the proposals which will be published for wider public consultation later in 2024. You can  see early proposals .

Proposals for the workplace levy (WPL) are at an early stage. See the   project web page for more information.

Both the wider ZEZ and WPL are key parts of the  Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan .

How do you plan to make cycling and walking more attractive?

Reduced traffic levels and better air quality will make walking and cycling safer and more pleasant. These benefits should be felt immediately. In addition, the plan is to install new cycling infrastructure in several locations in time for the start of the trial and during the trial. The details are currently being developed and some of the infrastructure may be installed initially on a temporary basis until the outcome of the trial is known.

Over time, because of less traffic on the roads, it should be possible to bring forward permanent plans for:

• more/wider/better cycle lanes and tracks
• more pedestrian and cycle crossings with shorter wait times at signals
• streetscape improvements
• pedestrianisation.

Reducing traffic levels will help to reduce road collisions and casualties. Many of these currently involve pedestrians and cyclists.

Questions about buses

How are you going to make buses better.

Our modelling and assessment of the proposals suggests that traffic should reduce across the city. As a result, bus journeys would be faster within the ring road which should lead to an increase of bus and park and ride use.

Two bus companies in Oxford - Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group - have ordered 159 brand new electric buses to serve our city. These new buses will serve all city and park and ride routes.

We are also working with Oxfordshire’s bus operators to introduce new and improved bus services including around the ‘Eastern Arc’ of the city, including Summertown, Marston, Headington and Cowley, and a through service between west and north Oxford.

Aren’t buses just as polluting as cars?

Over the years, the county and city councils, working with the bus operators, have introduced various measures to reduce bus pollution, including the introduction of the Bus Low Emission Zone in 2014. Two bus companies in Oxford - Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group - have ordered 159 brand new zero-emission electric buses to serve our city. These new buses will serve all city and park and ride routes and are being phased in since spring 2024.

Are you doing anything to make buses services cheaper?

Higher bus fares in recent years are a result of several factors - slow bus speeds, reduced bus demand and higher operating costs. Traffic filters should make bus journeys more attractive, which would increase bus use and therefore help address high bus fares.

 A number of measures are being implemented in the city and across the county to combat high bus fares, including:

The county and city councils have worked with Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach to trial new combined park and ride tickets that cover both parking and return bus travel in one charge. Parking and return bus travel for one passenger is £4 and £5 for a car with two or more passengers. 

Some of Oxfordshire County Council’s £12.7m of bus service improvement plan (BSIP) funding, from the Department of Transport, is being used to make transport more affordable for young people. A flat rate bus fare of £1 has been introduced for under 19s for single journeys in Oxford and other reduced fares have been introduced across the county for under 19s.

The Department for Transport implemented a £2 bus fare cap on single bus tickets on many bus services across England in January 2023. This cap will be in place until the end of December 2024.

These measures will contribute towards making bus travel cheaper and accessible for more residents. 

More details about new bus services that should be possible following the introduction of the traffic filters are in  Annex 11 of the Cabinet report from 29 November 2022 when it was decided to go ahead with the trial of the traffic filters.

Will the traffic filters impact any existing bus routes?

Due to the expected reductions in traffic levels and congestion, existing bus services should be faster and more reliable.

Increases in traffic on some routes, including the ring road, may require measures to protect buses in some places including bus priority at traffic signals, for example. Some measures are already in development, including the north Oxford corridor improvements . 

The proposed workplace parking levy (WPL), which would be payable by employers with large amounts of staff parking, would provide some of the longer-term funding required for further bus priority and other sustainable transport improvements. Introduction of the WPL will be subject to engagement with businesses, residents and other interested parties, development of proposals and consultation. 

More details are in Annex 11 of the Cabinet report from 29 November 2022 when it was decided to go ahead with the trial of the traffic filters.

Will there be enough space on buses and at park and rides?

Modelling and assessment of the traffic filter proposals suggests demand for buses and park and ride buses will increase because of the traffic filters. There is capacity in the existing city-edge park and rides to accommodate an increase in demand.

Questions about funding and income

How much is the project going to cost.

The estimated cost for traffic filters is £6.56million.

Where is funding coming from for this project?

We have been awarded £12.7m from the Department for Transport towards our bus service improvement plan (BSIP), which includes the traffic filters amongst other schemes. This funding will cover the costs of the traffic filters, as well as other measures which encourage residents to travel more sustainably and help make transport more affordable for young people.

What will any income from the trial be spent on?

The objective of the scheme is not to raise income. Private cars need a permit to drive through a filter when the filters are operating. Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).

Any income generated by the scheme during the trial would be ring-fenced to cover the costs of introducing and operating the scheme. Should the trial be successful, and the scheme made permanent, then the income from 2025/26 onwards would generate further surplus. This surplus could be used as a contribution towards any future mitigating measures or post-trial costs.

Questions about consultation and the trial

What is an experimental traffic regulation order (etro) and how does it work.

Experimental traffic regulation orders (ETRO) allow a council to introduce traffic measures as a trial and make changes during that trial if needed. This helps the council and members of the public to test how a scheme works before any permanent decisions are made.

During the trial period, Oxfordshire County Council will collect information on the effects of the scheme such as changes in traffic levels and bus journey times and ask residents and businesses for their views on the measures. See the  monitoring and evaluation plan for details.

A consultation will run alongside the trial period where people can submit their feedback based on their experience of the traffic filters.

At the end of the trial, the council will decide whether to continue with the traffic filters, based on all the information collected and feedback received.

How will you monitor the trial?

A detailed  monitoring and evaluation plan has been developed for the trial. It includes: 

• traffic levels at traffic count sites across the city. This will include locations inside the traffic filter area, the ring road and locations throughout the city. Much of this data is collected automatically by the county council’s traffic counters
• cycle flows
• air quality based on air quality monitoring locations throughout the city
• bus journey times for services on all key corridors, and by time of day
• impacts on specific groups with protected characteristics (including gender, age, disability, maternity) to assess whether the scheme has any adverse or unintended consequences.

Do you have a specific data-driven target or threshold for the success or failure of the trial?

The council has not set specific thresholds for success or failure because:

• monitoring data
• feedback from the six-month public consultation during the trial
• the costs of operating and maintaining the scheme
• legal advice
• relevant local and national policy.

Monitoring data is therefore only one of several factors the council will consider in making its decisions.

• Traffic filters’ impacts will be felt across a large area. Thresholds based on an average across the whole area may mask important differences in the scheme’s performance between different parts of the city.
• Traffic filters’ impacts will change over time and may not have fully settled by the end of the trial. The council will need to consider trends, not just ‘snapshots’ at a particular point in time.
• The scheme will have a range of costs and benefits, and the council will need to weigh these up and make careful judgements about the overall performance of the project. These judgements must be made by elected councillors, rather than being pre-determined by a technical process.

What consultation has happened already?

The decision to implement the trial was made by the council’s cabinet on 29 November 2022 and followed engagement with more than 100 local businesses, organisations and community groups, including bus companies, hospitals, schools and universities.

A public consultation was open between 5 September and 13 October 2022 and received 4,814 responses. 

A second public consultation, running for six months, will take place during the trial.

What changes have been made to the proposals in response to consultation feedback?

We have been listening to stakeholders and residents since traffic filters were first included in council policy in 2015.  Engagement with residents, businesses and other interested parties  resulted in several changes to the proposals that now form the basis of the trial. 

These include the introduction of permits to allow certain groups to continue to travel through traffic filters while they are in operation.

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Oxford zero emission zone (ZEZ) explained

March 08, 2024 by John Rawlings

On 28 February 2022, Oxford introduced its first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) for a limited area in the city centre. There are plans to widen the initial ZEZ to a much wider area, but no date has been confirmed yet. Here’s everything we know so far about the Oxford ZEZ.

Like several other cities across the UK , Oxford introduced its ZEZ to improve air quality by reducing polluting traffic and emissions. This is also to encourage the transition to low and zero emissions vehicles, or for people to use public transport instead.

Only fully electric cars , vans and motorbikes, or those with an exemption or 100 percent discount, can enter the Oxford ZEZ without paying a charge.

Oxford ZEZ map

The Oxford ZEZ and the larger proposed ZEZ (in green)

The current Oxford ZEZ includes the following streets:

• Bonn Square
• Cornmarket Street
• Market Street (40m stretch east from junction with Cornmarket)
• New Inn Hall Street
• New Road (between Bonn Square and its junction with Castle Street)
• Ship Street
• St Michael’s Street
• Queen Street

The Oxford Zero Emissions Zone is enforced using automatic number plate recognition cameras, and Oxfordshire County Council has installed traffic signs featuring a green circle with ZEZ in white letters to identify which streets are within it.

To view a map of the city centre’s Zero Emission Zone, click here: Zero_Emission_Zone_Plan

Are there any exemptions from the Oxford ZEZ?

Yes, exemptions are available for particular special vehicles (listed below), but must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to ensure this is processed before the day of travel.

Exemptions from the Oxford ZEZ daily charge are available for the following vehicles:

• Historic vehicles
• Military vehicles
• Hackney carriages licensed by Oxford City Council
• Registered local buses
• Emergency services vehicles
• Agricultural and similar vehicles, including: tractors, mowing machines, steam-powered vehicles, snowploughs and road gritters
• Other work-related vehicles, such as: mobile cranes, pumping vehicles, digging machines, road rollers and works trucks (such as forklift trucks)

Applying for an exemption should be done online (if that’s not possible, by calling 0345 310 1111 – option 3).

Are there any discounts for the Oxford ZEZ?

Yes, there are discounts for the Oxford ZEZ daily charge available for certain vehicles or drivers: please see the list below; however, note that the discount must be applied for at least 10 days in advance to ensure it is processed before the day of travel:

• Blue badge holders
• Disabled tax vehicles
• Selected low emission hybrid private hire and Hackney carriage vehicles
• Residents in the Zero Emission Zone
• Health or care workers
• Community transport vehicles
• Businesses in the Zero Emission Zone
• Students in financial hardship moving in or out of the Zero Emission Zone

Applying for a discount should be done online (if that’s not possible, by calling 0345 310 1111 – option 3).

Oxford ZEZ charges

Automatic number plate recognition cameras will check every vehicle that enters the Oxford ZEZ, so unless your vehicle is a zero emission vehicle, or exempt, or qualifies for a 100 percent discount, you will have to pay the daily charge.

Zero emissions vehicles are not required to pay a daily charge, so fully electric cars, vans and motorbikes do not need to apply for a discount or exemption to enter the Oxford ZEZ.

All other petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles that are not eligible for an exemption or discount must pay a daily charge to enter the Oxford ZEZ between 7am and 7pm . This applies every day of the year.

The daily charge ranges from:

• £2 per day for a vehicle with ultra-low emissions (less than 75 g/km CO2)
• £4 per day for a low emission vehicle (Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel ) with four or more wheels
• £10 per day for all other vehicles.

Note that these daily charges are due to double in August 2025.

How to pay the Oxford ZEZ

The daily charge can be paid on the day the vehicle enters the ZEZ or up to six days before or after. If paying in advance, you should be 100 percent certain that you are going to go ahead with your plans to drive into the ZEZ as Oxfordshire County Council will not issue a refund.

Once the daily charge is paid, the vehicle can enter the Oxford ZEZ multiple times on that day only.

If a vehicle is parked in the Oxford ZEZ and does not move, no daily charge is applicable.

Payment for the daily charge can be made online after entering the vehicle’s number plate details here .

What if I don’t pay the Oxford ZEZ charge?

If you do not pay the Oxford ZEZ charge, you will automatically receive a £60 penalty charge notice (PCN). There are no warnings or reminders to pay the daily charge before the PCN is issued.

Details of how to pay the fine are detailed on the PCN and below. You will need the PCN number, the registration number of the vehicle. There are three ways to pay the fine:

• By phone: call 0345 337 1138 (option 1)
• By post: Send a cheque or postal order payable to Oxfordshire County Council, with the PCN number written on the back and the slip on the PCN to the address given on the PCN. Do not send cash.
• Online: click here

There is a 50 per cent discount on the fine (from £60 to £30) if the PCN is paid within 14 days; if you do not pay the fine (or submit a formal challenge) within 28 days then the fine increases by 50 percent to £90.

And if you don’t pay the increased amount within 14 days, the council will register the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC) at Northampton County Court. There are full details of the process that follows this on the Oxfordshire County Council website, here .

Can I appeal an Oxford ZEZ fine?

Yes, it is possible to appeal against an Oxford ZEZ fine, but it must be done in writing and submitted within 28 days of the charge certificate. There will be details on how to appeal on the PCN or the Oxfordshire County Council website, here .

Any appeal will not be accepted if you have already paid the Oxford ZEZ fine.

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Related articles

Oxford to have 'UK's first' zero emission zone after council approval

• Published 16 March 2021

Queen Street and Cornmarket Street are in the proposed "red zone"

Oxford is set to become the first place in the UK to have a Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ), a city council has said.

The pilot, which will be introduced in August, will see non-zero emission vehicles subject to charges in certain zones, between 07:00 and 19:00.

Oxfordshire County Council approved the plans earlier after it and Oxford City Council held a series of consultations.

A wider ZEZ covering the rest of the city centre is expected to be introduced in spring 2022.

The pilot is due to start in Bonn Square, Queen Street, Cornmarket, part of Market Street, Ship Street, St Michael's Street, New Inn Hall Street and Shoe Lane, in the so-called "red zone".

The council said charging non-zero emission vehicles represented the "fairest balance between accelerating the transition to a zero-emission transport system and maintaining access".

The authority said the approach - where only electric cars will not be charged - mirrored similar schemes in London and other cities where more polluting vehicles are charged rather than banned.

Under the plans, motorists would be charged for driving in the red zone

The county council said it had made several changes following the consultation, including:

Residents within the zone will get a 90% discount until 2030

Businesses within the zone will get a 90% discount until 2025

Blue-badge holders exempt until 2025

Care and health workers carrying out formal duties exempt

Certain hybrid private hire vehicles will get 50% discount until 2025

Students delivering or collecting at the beginning and end of terms in "acute financial hardship" exempt

Councillor Yvonne Constance, the county council's cabinet member for environment, previously said the zone would make the city a "healthier and cleaner place for all".

The final consultation was launched in November after the previous one was paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic .

Bethan Nimmo, BBC Oxford political reporter

It's a brave time to introduce the UK's first Zero Emission Zone.

Even though businesses do get a 90% discount for their own vehicles, delivery drivers won't be exempt from the charge and neither will many potential customers.

So, is the period straight after a pandemic the right moment for such a big change? Some businesses say it would be better to wait.

But those in charge believe there's no time to waste when it comes to improving air quality and tackling the climate emergency.

Follow BBC South on Facebook , external , Twitter , external , or Instagram , external . Send your story ideas to [email protected] , external .

Related Topics

• UK air pollution

More on this story

Consultation on city's zero emission plan complete

• Published 9 March 2021

Final consultation on city's zero emission future

• Published 20 November 2020

Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in UK from 2030

• Published 18 November 2020

Car ban plan decision delayed until new year

• Published 30 September 2020

Virus crisis sees emission zone launch postponed

• Published 25 March 2020

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Department for Transport

Oxford traffic scheme won’t ‘confine’ residents to specific neighbourhoods

What was claimed.

Oxford is to trial a “climate lockdown” which will confine residents to their local neighbourhood and require them to ask permission to leave.

Our verdict

The traffic scheme being trialled will restrict when many drivers including local residents can use six major roads across the city. But the scheme won’t block residents from travelling outside their local neighbourhoods or place any restrictions on where they can go via other forms of transport.

Plans to trial a new scheme aiming to reduce traffic in Oxford have been described as a “climate lockdown” on social media, with some misleadingly claiming that it will restrict local residents’ freedom of movement.

One post shared to Facebook includes a screenshot of a blog post claiming residents will be “confined to their local neighbourhood and have to ask permission to leave”.

The plans actually involve installing traffic cameras—known as “traffic filters”—on certain roads around the city, with drivers issued with fines if they pass through the filters at certain times without an exemption or permit.

The plans have proved controversial, with thousands of local residents saying they oppose the scheme and criticism from some local businesses .  

However, contrary to what some have claimed on social media, the scheme will not block residents from travelling outside of their local neighbourhoods or place any restrictions on where they can go other than by car.

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What is the trial?

According to Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council, the trial is set to start in 2024, and involves traffic filters on six roads.

In a joint statement issued on 6 December in response to “misinformation” about the trial, the councils said: “The traffic filters work in exactly the same way as the existing traffic cameras in High Street, and are widely used in cities across the UK to manage congestion and support public transport.

“Residents will still be able to drive to every part of the city at any time—but in the future, during certain times of the day, you may need to take a different route (eg, using the ring road) if you want to travel by car.”

The trial will not involve any form of physical barriers on roads, and will instead be policed by cameras and automatic number plate recognition. Drivers who do not have a permit or exemption and who pass through the filters during restricted times will be issued with fines through the post.

Residents won’t be ‘confined’ to specific areas

It’s not accurate to claim that the plans will “lock residents into one of six zones to ‘save the planet’ from global warming”, as the Facebook post does. While the scheme will restrict where residents can drive at certain times, it won’t have any other impact on their freedom of movement, as for example the Covid-19 lockdowns did.

Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council say that the aim of the scheme is to “to reduce traffic levels and congestion, make the buses faster and more reliable, and make cycling and walking safer and more pleasant”.

Residents will still be able to travel to any part of the city, and some people (for example, blue badge holders, carers and emergency service workers) will be exempt from the restrictions altogether.

Some posts have also claimed that residents will require “permission” to leave specific areas. This could refer to the trial’s use of “permits” for local residents in Oxford and surrounding villages, enabling them to drive through the filters on up to 100 days a year.

It’s also been claimed that the scheme is part of a “secretly decided” plan to “divide-up the city of Oxford into six ‘15 minute’ districts”, and that the traffic scheme is the “latest stage” in this plan.

The “15-minute neighbourhoods” plan is a genuine proposal by Oxford City Council , which “aims to ensure that every resident has all the essentials (shops, healthcare, parks) within a 15-minute walk of their home.”

However neither the traffic scheme nor the 15-minute neighbourhoods proposal will require residents to seek specific permission from local authorities any time they wish to travel outside their neighbourhood, and unless residents are going by car, the schemes won’t have any impact on their ability to travel.

Full Fact has contacted Oxfordshire County Council for comment and will update this piece if it responds.

Image courtesy of Matt Boitor

This article is part of our work fact checking potentially false pictures, videos and stories on Facebook. You can read more about this—and find out how to report Facebook content— here . For the purposes of that scheme, we’ve rated this claim as missing context because the scheme will not block residents from travelling outside of their local neighbourhoods or otherwise place restrictions on where they can go.

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Joint statement from Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council on Oxford’s traffic filters

**This article was originally published on 7 December 2022, and was updated on 22 December to include an additional FAQ regarding responses to the Council's consultation on the proposals and on 28 December to add a fact-checking video.

Staff and councillors at both councils have been subjected to abuse due to inaccurate information, being circulated online, about traffic filters.

We take the wellbeing of our colleagues seriously and are taking appropriate steps to provide staff and councillors with support. We are working with Thames Valley Police to report the most extreme abuse. 

The misinformation has also resulted in both councils receiving numerous calls and social media messages from worried residents. 

To reassure residents, we have produced the following FAQs to set the record straight. 

Oxfordshire County Council has also produced a fact-checking video which residents can watch.

Further information, including maps and FAQs, can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s dedicated website: letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022 . 

Will the Oxford traffic filters be physical barriers?

Oxfordshire County Council, supported by Oxford City Council, is proposing to install traffic filters as a trial on six roads in Oxford. The trial is currently planned to begin in 2024.

The traffic filters are not physical barriers of any kind and will not be physical road closures. They are simply traffic cameras that can read number plates. 

If a vehicle passes through the filter at certain times of the day, the camera will read the number plate and (if you do not have an exemption or a residents’ permit) you will receive a fine in the post.  

Buses and taxis will be able to pass through the traffic filters freely at all times, people can walk or cycle through them at all times, and there will be exemptions and permits for blue badge holders, emergency services, health workers and both professional and non-professional care workers. People receiving frequent hospital treatments will also be eligible to drive through the filters.

Oxford residents (and residents of some surrounding villages) will be able to apply for a permit to drive through the filters on up to 100 days a year. Residents living in the rest of Oxfordshire will be able to apply for a permit to drive through the filter on up to 25 days a year.  

The traffic filters work in exactly the same way as the existing traffic cameras in High Street, and are widely used in cities across the UK to manage congestion and support public transport. 

Residents will still be able to drive to every part of the city at any time – but in the future, during certain times of the day, you may need to take a different route (e.g. using the ring road) if you want to travel by car. 

The reason we have proposed these changes is because – as everyone who lives and visits Oxford knows – the city has had awful congestion for decades. This is damaging both our economy and our environment, and is making the bus network unviable. 

Our aim is to reduce traffic levels and congestion, make the buses faster and more reliable, and make cycling and walking safer and more pleasant. 

Oxford needs a more sustainable, reliable and inclusive transport system for everyone, particularly for the 30% of our households who do not own a car. 

The county council has already made amendments to the scheme after listening carefully to feedback from residents and stakeholders earlier this year.  

The scheme will be introduced as a trial, during which an additional consultation will be carried out to further refine the scheme. A final decision will then be made on whether or not the filters should be made permanent. 

Will Oxford residents be confined to their local area? 

The misinformation online has linked the traffic filters to the 15-minute neighbourhoods proposal in the city council’s Local Plan 2040, suggesting that the traffic filters will be used to confine people to their local area. This is not true. 

The 15-minute neighbourhoods proposal aims to ensure that every resident has all the essentials (shops, healthcare, parks) within a 15-minute walk of their home. They aim to support and add services, not restrict them. 

For the benefit of Oxford residents, what we are aiming to do is to ensure that areas of the city such as Barton, Blackbird Leys and Rose Hill have all the essential services that areas such as East Oxford and Jericho already have. 

Under the traffic filters, residents will still be able to drive to every part of the city at any time – but in the future, at the times when the filters are operating, you may need to take a different route (e.g. using the ring road) if you want to travel by car. 

Will Oxfordshire residents need permission from the councils to travel across the city? 

Everyone can go through all the filters at any time by bus, bike, taxi, scooter or walking. Furthermore, residents will still be able to drive to every part of the city at any time – but in the future, during certain times of the day, you may need to take a different route (e.g. using the ring road) if you want to travel by car. 

There will also be exemptions to the fines for carers, blue badge holders, businesses, and emergency services. 

Oxford residents (and residents of some surrounding villages) will be able to apply for a permit to drive through the filters on up to 100 days a year. Residents living in the rest of Oxfordshire will be able to apply for a permit to drive through the filter on up to 25 days a year.

If residents in the permit areas are not using a permit or run out of permits, they will still be able to drive to any destination in Oxford or elsewhere, whenever they like, as often as they like. Depending on their location and destination, they might have to use a different route to avoid the filters, which would usually be the ring road.

The reason we have proposed these changes is because – as everyone who lives and visits Oxford knows – the city has had awful congestion for decades. This is damaging both our economy and our environment, and is making the bus network unviable.

Have Oxford’s councils tried to secretly introduce the traffic filters?  

No.                   

The concept of traffic filters was first introduced in 2015 in the Oxford Transport Strategy.

The proposals for traffic filters were first consulted on in 2019 and then updated in February 2022. Following this update, several months of engagement work was carried out with stakeholders across the city to inform further updated proposals which were announced in August 2022. A large number of changes were made to the scheme as a result of the consultation, including the introduction of 100 day passes for each resident, and reductions in the hours of operation of some of the filters.

A consultation on the proposals was carried out from 5 September until 13 October 2022 in which 5,700 people responded to the consultation survey and another 485 emails were received by members of the public and businesses, schools and other organisations. This engagement work included an in-person and virtual engagement session with members of the public, as well as meetings with businesses across the city.  

The responses were analysed by an independent research company and the feedback received resulted in a number of updates to the scheme. This was used to inform Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet meeting on 29 November 2022, where an extraordinary meeting was held and cabinet members made a decision on whether to proceed with the trial.  

Did a public consultation find that 93% of people disagree with the Oxford traffic filters?  No.  The figure stems from a misreading of results from a public consultation carried out on the traffic filters in September and October 2022.  One question asked people: “Do you have any comments on the scheme’s benefits?” A free-text box was given to answer the question, meaning the 4,814 people who responded could answer with as many words as they wanted.  An independent surveying company was then hired to better understand the responses. They categorised each of the 4,814 responses into 45 broad themes, summarising people’s responses in general terms such as: “Plan will increase congestion/traffic”, “Plan will increase pollution” or “Negative opinions of LTNs”.  The independent survey company summarised some responses as generally positive or negative. This showed that 8% of the answers could be broadly categorised as “Disagree with schemes/Can’t see benefits”, while 7% could be broadly categorised as “Support/agree with scheme/Can see the benefits”.  The 93% figure is not found anywhere in the 73-page report .  

It is incorrect to claim that the table shows “only 7% of the public support the traffic filters”, and that therefore 93% of people must disagree with them. The table does not say this; this is a misrepresentation of the consultation results.  This deliberate misrepresentation of data is harmful to the public debate. 

In summary: The 93% figure is false and there is no evidence to support it. 

Watch our fact-checking video

Cllr Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council and Cllr Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel and Development Strategy explain what traffic filters really are and how they work. Click on the video below to watch and learn more.

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Announcements, traffic filters will divide city into six "15 minute" neighbourhoods, traffic filters will divide city into "15 minute" neighbourhoods.

Traffic filters will divide city into six "15 minute" neighbourhoods, says highw<span class="truncate"><span class="truncate-preview">ays councillor <i>(I<span class="truncate-full-screen">mage: NQ staff)</i></span></span></span>

Traffic filters will divide city into six "15 minute" neighbourhoods, says highw<span class="truncate"><span class="truncate-preview">ays councillor <i>(I<span class="truncate-full-screen">mage: Oxfordshire County Council)</i></span></span></span>

ROAD blocks stopping most motorists from driving through Oxford city centre will divide the city into six "15 minute" neighbourhoods, a county council travel chief has said.

And he insisted the controversial plan would go ahead whether people liked it or not.

READ MORE:  Council staff abused after conspiracists circulate fake news about traffic filters

Duncan Enright, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for travel and development strategy, explained the authority's traffic filter proposals in an interview in The Sunday Times.

He said the filters would turn Oxford into "a 15-minute city" with local services within a small walking radius.

Mr Enright said: "It is about making sure you have the community centre which has all of those essential needs, the bottle of milk, pharmacy, GP, schools which you need to have a 15-minute neighbourhood."

READ ALSO: Oxford University student felt 'gaslighted' over cockroach infestation

The aim is to reduce traffic in the city centre and make city living more pleasant, but critics say the plans will negatively affect businesses and the city centre's economy.

A decision will be made on November 29, and is the date for the cabinet decision. following a consultation which closed earlier this month.

But Mr Enright told the Sunday Times: "It's going to happen definitely."

The new traffic filters on St Cross Road, Thames Street, Hythe Bridge Street and St Clements would operate seven days a week from 7am to 7pm.

Two more filters on Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way would operate from Monday to Saturday.

People can drive freely around their own neighbourhood and can apply for a permit to drive through the filters, and into other neighbourhoods, for up to 100 days per year. This equates to an average of two days per week.

The alternative is to drive out on to the ring road and then back in to the destination.

A maximum of three permits a household will be allowed where there are several adults with cars registered to the address.

Buses, coaches, taxis, delivery vans, HGVs, motorbikes and bikes are exempt and there are exceptions for blue badge holders and people with caring responsibilities.

READ ALSO: Barristers warn courts are 'literally collapsing' after problems with leak

Hotelier Jeremy Mogford, who owns the Old Bank Hotel in High Street and the Old Parsonage Hotel and Gees, both in Banbury Road, described the plan as disastrous for business.

He previously told the Oxford Mail: "What we have is people making decisions that don’t live in the city centre or spend much time in the city.

"We’re being dictated to by councillors who don’t live here.

“There’s a lot of scepticism that consultations are a token gesture – the last time round, the majority were against the bus gates and it was postponed until now.”

He told the Sunday Times he had just received his first item of hate mail, a postcard saying: "Oxford has been very good for you. Why do you hate Oxford so much?"

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Oxford traffic filters arriving in 2024 – what you need to know

Oxfordshire county council is planning more significant changes to oxford’s roads. read on to find out what’s happening, and how it could affect you.

New traffic filters will be appearing around Oxford’s roads by the end of 2024.

These are the latest stage in the County Council’s wider plan to relieve congestion and improve air quality in and around the city by encouraging more people to walk, cycle or use public transport.

The Council expects the filters to make bus journeys quicker and more reliable, and walking and cycling safer and more pleasant. This is a trial, and the changes will be made permanent only if there’s clear evidence that they are working well and delivering the expected reduction in congestion. There will be an opportunity to provide the Council with feedback on how the filters are working and their effect on your commute.

In this article we summarise what these changes will mean in practice and how they could affect different groups.

The rollout of the filters will not start until after Network Rail has finished its work on the railway bridge and Botley Road has reopened. This is currently scheduled to happen in October 2024.

The Travel team within Estates Services will provide more information on the new system as it becomes available. In the meantime, the best place to find up-to-date information about the filters is the County Council’s website .

What is happening?

During the trial, six new traffic filters will be installed on key roads around the city. Four of them will operate from 7am to 7pm every day:

• Hythe Bridge Street
• Thames Street
• St Cross Road
• St Clement’s

The last two will operate at peak times only – from 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Saturday:

• Marston Ferry Road
• Hollow Way, in Cowley

You can see an online map of the exact locations . The Council thinks these sites will have the maximum positive impact on congestion around Oxford.

The times above mean travelling around the city between 7pm and 7am will be completely unaffected by the changes.

How will the filters work?

There won’t be physical barriers – the filters will be clearly signed points in the road, enforced by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

The details of vehicles passing through the filters will be checked against a database to see if they are automatically exempt or have a valid permit.

Cars that aren’t exempt (or resident permit holders who have used up all their day passes) will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days) if driven through the filters.

It’s important to understand that you will still be able to get everywhere in the city by car, at any time of day, without passing through any filters. However, this may mean taking a less direct route than previously and possibly using the ring road.

Who can go through the filters does not depend on vehicle emissions, and electric vehicles are not automatically exempt. This is a separate initiative from the Zero Emissions Zone , which is also being trialled at present by the County Council and involves vehicles being charged to enter a comparatively small area of Oxford city centre if they produce emissions above a certain level.

Impact on staff and students

University and college employees who live in the Oxford permit area will be able to apply for a permit that provides 100 day passes per car per calendar year. At maximum this applies to one car per person (who must be the registered keeper) and three cars per household. The same is true of students who are eligible to keep a car in Oxford.

Those living in the wider Oxfordshire permit area will be able to apply for a permit that provides 25 days passes per car per calendar year. At maximum this applies to one car per person (who must be the registered keeper) and two cars per household.

The County Council has published a detailed map of the two permit areas. If you often need to drive into or around Oxford, please consult their website to find out more about how this will affect you.

What exemptions will there be?

Certain kinds of vehicle will automatically be exempt, including vans and HGVs – so most goods deliveries to University sites, and most staff members like gardeners and maintenance personnel who need to drive around town on University business, should be unaffected. Minibuses and coaches are also exempt, as are motorbikes and mopeds.

Many groups of drivers will also be able to apply for a permit allowing them to travel through the filters even though their vehicles are not automatically exempt. You can see them all on the Council’s website , but the list includes carers (paid and unpaid), patients who need regular hospital treatments, and several other groups to which significant numbers of staff and students belong.

For example, those who need to travel by car because they are disabled should be able to keep doing so, since blue badge holders and those driving disabled-class vehicles can apply for a permit. The same is true for those with caring responsibilities which make driving essential.

Drivers of private cars that are used for business purposes, for example as goods vehicles, will also be able to apply for a permit. So staff who often transport things around town by car on behalf of their department or college should also be able to carry on. (See below for information on vehicle fleets operated by departments or colleges themselves.)

What should I do if I’m not eligible for an exemption?

Staff and students who don’t fall into any of the exempt groups may need to adjust their travel routine – go to the Council’s website for guidance.

The University Travel team provides helpful information about alternative ways of getting around town, with discounts available on bus and train travel alongside lots of advice and assistance to make it easier to switch to cycling . This includes free training, discounted cycle safety and security equipment and a salary sacrifice scheme to help with the cost of a new bike.

How will this affect departments and colleges with their own vehicles?

The Council plans to set up an online portal for businesses to manage their operational vehicle fleets.

The details are still being finalised, but it is likely that each department and college will have its own account on this portal, with permission to apply for permits for multiple qualifying cars. They will use the website to record and update the details of their fleet.

Because vans and similar vehicles will be allowed through the filters by default, the impact on most parts of the University is expected to be limited.

More information

The Travel team will provide more information as soon as it is available. In the meantime, they will be happy to advise any colleagues in departments or colleges who are concerned about the impact of the filters on their operations – please contact them on [email protected] .

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Oxford traffic filter trials explained: how will they work?

Oxfordshire County Council have announced that from November 2024 they will be trialling a new way of reducing traffic congestion in and around Oxford by introducing traffic filters. 

Here is more information about the new systems and how they will work.

What are traffic filters?

According to the Oxfordshire County Council website , traffic filters limit through traffic along a small section of a road when travelling by certain modes of transport.

Oxford traffic filters will be camera-enforced points on six roads in Oxford and will only apply to private cars.  

There will be no physical barriers, and everywhere in Oxford will be accessible.

READ MORE: Family pay tribute to man who died in collision in Bicester

If you drive a private car, you may need to take a different route or change how you travel if you don't have a permit to drive through the filter.

Why are traffic filters being introduced?

The council say their aim is to reduce congestion by trialling camera-operated traffic filters on six roads in the city to help lower the number of private car journeys.

They are part of the central Oxfordshire travel plan and Oxfordshire's local transport and connectivity plan. 

According to the council, these filters are designed to work together with other measures such as to reduce traffic, make bus journeys faster and to allow for new and improved bus routes.

Which locations will they be in? 

The traffic filters will be placed on St Cross Road, Thames Street and Hythe Bridge Street in central Oxford, St Clement’s Street in east Oxford, Marston Ferry Road, in Marston, and Hollow Way in Cowley. 

READ MORE: Ronnie Barker's antique shop sign will go to auction today

The restrictions will operate during set days and hours. 

Here is a map showing the locations.

How will they work?

As explained on the Oxfordshire County Council website, at each traffic filter site, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will monitor and enforce the restrictions, meaning there will be no physical barriers.

Each filter will cover a very short section of road of a few metres.

Cars can use the road outside of the filter point at any time without a permit, and private cars need a permit to drive through a filter when the filters are operating.

Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine.

READ MORE: Police confirm Bicester boy found safe five months later

Permits are free of charge and will be valid for 12 months, unless stated otherwise.

They provide a day pass through the traffic filters, but the amount of these per year are limited. 

No permit is needed to drive any other type of vehicle through the filters.

Traffic filter permits can only be used for the six new trial traffic filters being introduced in autumn 2024 and the permits cannot be used for existing bus gates, low traffic neighbourhoods or any other restrictions.