Council threatened with legal action over temporary congestion charge scheme

A pre-action protocol letter threatening legal action over a temporary congestion charge for cars in Oxford has been sent to the county council.

Details: 10.Oct.2025

The campaign group, Open Roads for Oxford, argues that the scheme is “unlikely to achieve stated objectives”, and that public consultation responses on the scheme were not "conscientiously taken into account".

The council acknowledged receipt of the pre-action protocol letter and said it was “considering the contents”.

According to the BBC, the temporary £5 daily fee is due to begin on 29 October and will apply to cars driving through six roads in the city.

In a response to the council’s consultation on the scheme, Open Roads for Oxford shared concerns that the congestion charge is “unlikely” to achieve its key objectives of reducing traffic, making bus journeys faster and more reliable, and reducing air pollution.

Its consultation response said: “While traffic may be reduced on some roads, Oxfordshire County Council’s modelling clearly shows that, as a direct consequence, it is increased on others. So, traffic build-up is not being reduced; it is simply being moved to other locations.”

The campaign group also shared concerns over ‘inequality of outcomes’ as a result of the scheme, observing that individuals who rely on a large team of supporters who travel by car – for instance older, disabled or SEN individuals, may be disadvantaged.

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Emily Scaysbrook, organiser at Open Roads for Oxford said on the group’s GoFundMe page: “From November 2025, Oxfordshire County Council plans to impose a £5-a-day "temporary congestion charge" on six key roads in Oxford. It will hit just as the crucial Christmas season begins, threatening the survival of independent businesses and placing unnecessary financial burdens on residents, workers, and vulnerable groups.

“[…] Help us stop this scheme from going ahead by supporting our legal challenge.”

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “Oxfordshire County Council can confirm it has received a letter before action on behalf of Open Roads for Oxford. It is considering the contents of this letter, and it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.”

Lottie Winson