Oxfordshire County Council is proposing six trial traffic filters in Oxford

The filters aim to improve bus services and journey times, reduce walking and cycling accidents and improve air quality across the city.

If approved, Oxfordshire County Council will introduce them under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) from summer 2023.

READ MORE: Cost of Living Crisis: Oxford City Council writes to Government for help

The project’s consultation page went live on September 5 and all residents are encouraged to fill in the survey with their views.  

The consultation closes on October 3.

This is everything you need to know before filling the consultation in:

What are traffic filters and how will they work?

The county council has the traffic filters are designed to reduce traffic levels across the city.

This in turn should make bus journeys ‘quicker and more reliable’ and walking and cycling ‘safer and more attractive’.

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

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

People living in Oxford and some areas just outside the city will be able to apply for a permit allowing them to drive through the traffic filters on up to 100 days per year.

The traffic filters will be monitored by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Why is Oxfordshire County Council proposing traffic filters?

These traffic filters are part of Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to reduce ‘unnecessary’ journeys made by private vehicles and encourage the use of active travel and public transport.

“This will help us deliver an affordable, sustainable and inclusive transport system that enables the county to thrive whilst protecting the environment and making Oxfordshire a better place to live for all residents,” a spokesperson said.

The county council expects the proposed traffic filters to:

• Reduce traffic levels by around 20 per cent across the city within the ring road.
• Reduce traffic levels by more than a third within the city centre.
• Increase bus and Park and Ride use by up to 10 per cent.
• Enable new and improved bus routes.
• Reduce overall accidents within the city by up to 15 per cent.
• Significantly improve air quality due to traffic reductions.
• Increase cycle mode share by over 10 per cent.

Where will they be placed?

The proposed traffic filters in Oxford (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

The current proposals include six traffic filters. Three of these will be located in the city centre on:

• St Cross Road
• Thames Street
• Hythe Bridge Street.

The remaining three filters will be located on:

• St Clements
• Marston Ferry Road
• Hollow Way.

Who will be exempt from travelling through the traffic filters?

The following vehicles will be exempt during the trial period:

• Buses
• Coaches
• Taxis
• Private hire vehicles
• Mopeds
• Motorbikes
• Vans
• HGVs
• Special vehicles such as emergency services.

Permits for private cars will be available for:

• Blue badge holders (either driving the car or being driven in the car) and disabled tax class vehicles
• Non-professional carers (in receipt of carer’s allowance)
• Professional health and care workers (for operational journeys, not commuting)
• Businesses within the permit area using a private car as a goods vehicle
• Residential properties within the permit area eligible for 100 day passes per vehicle per year (up to a max of 3 vehicles per household and one vehicle per person)
• Community transport vehicles
• Those in receipt of mobility-related benefits
• Those in receipt of direct travel payments.

Car permits will be available for all residents and businesses (subject to conditions) located in:

• Oxford City Council’s administrative area
• North Hinksey Parish
• South Hinksey Parish
• Cumnor Parish east of the A420, including Botley, Dean Court, Cumnor Hill, Chawley and parts of Cumnor.

How can you give your views? 

Complete the survey here:letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022

Printed copies of survey will be available from 5 September in the following locations:

• Abingdon Library, The Charter, Abingdon, OX14 3LY
• Blackbird Leys Library, Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford, OX4 6HT
• Botley Library, Elms Court, Botley, OX2 9LP
• Cowley Library, Temple Rd, Oxford, OX4 2EZ
• Eynsham Library, 30 Mill Street, Eynsham, OX29 4JS
• Headington Library, North Place, Headington, OX3 9HY
• Kennington Library, The Village Centre, Kennington, OX1 5PG
• Kidlington Library, 23 Oxford Road, Kidlington, OX5 2BP
• Littlemore, The Oxford Academy Campus, Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, OX4 6JZ
• Old Marston Library Mortimer Hall, Oxford Road, Old Marston, OX3 0PH
• Summertown Library, South Parade, Summertown, OX2 7JN
• Wheatley Library, The Merry Bells, High Street Wheatley, OX33 1XP
• Oxford County Library, Westgate, Oxford, OX1 1DJ

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Read more from this author

This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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