The Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) fully supports Open Roads for Oxford in mounting a legal challenge to Oxfordshire County Council’s decision to introduce a £5 daily congestion charge across Oxford.
This scheme, due to be enforced at six charging points around the city, was pushed through yesterday despite overwhelming opposition during the Council’s own consultation process.
- 74% of respondents said the overall impact of the scheme would be negative
- 82% of those said it would be very negative
- 66% of respondents said there should be no charge at all
The County Council has chosen to disregard these clear results, pressing ahead with a plan that will cause serious harm to residents, businesses, schools, and hospitals.
IOA Councillors express their disappointment
David Henwood, Oxfordshire County Councillor for Rose Hill and Littlemore, said:
“The County Council’s decision makes a mockery of consultation. People engaged in good faith, believing their views would shape policy. Instead, their voices have been ignored, and their trust has been broken.”
Anne Stares, Oxford City Councillor for Littlemore, said:
“This charge will hit families and vulnerable people the hardest. It will make daily life more difficult while doing little to achieve its stated aims. The Council should be working with communities, not against them.”
Ian Yeatman, Oxford City Councillor for Cowley, said:
“When two-thirds of people say they don’t want a charge, it is not democratic to push ahead regardless. Oxfordshire residents deserve leadership that listens to the people it represents.”
Judith Harley, Oxford City Councillor for Lye Valley, said:
“This Lib-Dem led County Council has shown blatant disregard for local opinion. Their approach erodes public confidence in the decision-making process and risks further alienating residents from their elected representatives.”
A call for real democracy in Oxfordshire
The Independent Oxford Alliance stands with Open Roads for Oxford in its efforts to hold the County Council to account. The IOA believes local government decisions must reflect the majority view and genuinely serve the needs of the community.