County council leaders have confirmed that their proposed new traffic filters scheme has been postponed in Oxford.

Earlier this month Network Rail's announced that Botley Road will not reopen as planned at the end of October.

The major route into the city has been closed at the rail bridge since April 2023 as part of the £161m redevelopment of Oxford station.

READ MORE: Network Rail delay is branded a 'train wreck'

Initially the road was supposed to reopen temporarily from October 2023 to March 2024 but delays forced Network Rail to re-think and announce the closure would continue until October 2024.

Now the rail authority has announced there will be further delays - although it has not said yet when the road will reopen, due to the complexity of diverting a large number of underground utility cables.

(Image: Oxford Mail) The county council was planning to launch six new traffic filters across the city on a trial basis, in a bid to cut congestion, but it has now issued a statement to say this will not go ahead as planned in November.

The council said in a statement on Friday morning it was "deeply dissatisfied and frustrated" that the launch of its traffic filters trial planned for November is now not possible. 

It added: "The council remains committed to the trial, which aims to tackle Oxford’s chronic congestion problems and dramatically improve bus journey times.

READ MORE: Traffic filters launch is now in question

"The only feasible option is for the council to wait and run the trial after Network Rail completes its work.

"The council is now waiting for Network Rail and the Department for Transport to confirm if work will continue and when it will be complete.

(Image: Oxford Mail) "Residents and businesses have shown incredible patience with more than a year of disruption to their lives because of Network Rail’s project. While the road remains closed, the council will continue to do all it can to work with partners to minimise the impact on the rest of the road network."

The traffic filters, with ANPR cameras, aim to reduce traffic levels in Oxford by managing the use of certain roads by private car, and a system of permits for residents will be introduced, offering them exemptions for a certain number of journeys through the filters.

All other vehicles including emergency services, taxis, buses, coaches, all vans, mopeds, motorbikes and HGVs can pass through traffic filters at all times.

Electrical works have started near the filter points at Hollow Way, Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clements, Marston Ferry Road and Thames Street.

And the roads have been marked red near the traffic filter locations.

A camera-enforced bus gate has been operating in High Street for many years.

Traders and residents in west Oxford have criticised the Network Rail delays.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.