Oxfordshire defends High Court challenge to road charging scheme
A campaign group that opposes traffic reduction measures in Oxford has failed in a bid to judicially review Oxfordshire County Council’s decision to install charging points for the use of certain roads. Mr Justice Fordham found in the High Court that Open Roads for Oxford (ORO) had no realistic prospect of success on any ground it put […]
Oxfordshire’s roads to be protected from potholes in £8m surface treatment programme
Following an unprecedented winter which saw a spike in the number of pothole reports nationally and locally, more than a million square metres of carriageway in Oxfordshire is set to be treated to reduce the risk of future road defects occurring. Eighty-seven roads will be improved as part of an £8 million Oxfordshire County Council […]
Research suggests electric buses are reducing air and noise pollution in Oxford
The introduction of 159 electric buses to serve the Oxford area has led to significant reductions in air and noise pollution. In 2023, a deal worth £82.5 million was agreed between Oxfordshire County Council, the government, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach to fund the fleet of new battery electric vehicles. Provisional data suggests that bus […]
New Oxfordshire lane rental scheme comes into force in May
The length of time spent on roadworks is to be targeted when Oxfordshire becomes the latest local authority to introduce a lane rental scheme (LRS). Oxfordshire County Council applied for the scheme in 2023 and the LRS was approved by the government last November, allowing the authority to charge up to £2,500 per day for […]
Oxfordshire invests £5.5m in cleaner and better buses after new vehicle improvement grants
Grants of £1.405 million have been awarded to bus companies and community transport groups to support upgrades to their vehicles for the benefit of passengers and the environment. Oxfordshire County Council has approved seven vehicle improvement grant applications that will collectively help fund 13 new electric buses, convert two existing minibuses from diesel to electric […]
County council meets with Oxford MPs to discuss ageing Kennington rail bridge
Representatives from Oxfordshire County council have met with two Oxford MPs to discuss the ageing A423 Kennington rail bridge and its strategic importance to the city. Councillor Judy Roberts, council officers and the Environment Agency met with Layla Moran MP and Anneliese Dodds MP to discuss the condition of the bearings, concrete and temporary propping […]
Oxford Congestion Charge judicial review turned down
A judicial review against Oxford’s congestion charge has been turned down by the High Court. Open Roads for Oxford has been campaigning against the scheme by Oxfordshire County Council in November, in which drivers going through one of six points in the city centre have to pay a £5 fee, says the BBC. But campaigners said the […]
Botley Road: Former councillor outlines what went wrong with Network Rail project
Network Rail failed to plan properly for the revamp of Oxford station which led to the long-term closure of Botley Road, according to a former county councillor. The multi-million pound revamp of the rail station led to the closure of the busy route at the rail bridge early in 2023, and it is due to […]
Promising start for Oxford temporary congestion charge
Early monitoring data for Oxford’s temporary congestion charge, published today by Oxfordshire County Council, shows signs of improving city centre traffic and key journey times, with some outer roads showing increased traffic. The county council’s temporary congestion charge is at points on six roads in Oxford and was introduced on 29 October. It is designed to reduce […]
Oxfordshire awards EV charging contract to ODS
The delivery of what is believed to be the UK’s largest programme of electric vehicle (EV) cable channel charging installations for homes without off-street parking has moved a step closer. ODS, the company behind the innovative Gul-e cross-pavement charging solution, has been awarded a contract by Oxfordshire County Council to deliver up to 500 cross-pavement EV charging […]