A councillor has criticised Oxfordshire County Council over its new congestion charge scheme, saying the inability for motorists to reach Oxford railway station without passing through a charge point is “typical of [the] incompetent” local authority behind the scheme.

The council introduced a £5 congestion charge last week for cars passing through designated points on six city centre streets. City councillor Linda Smith said she first raised concerns in June that the locations of the charge points would restrict access to the railway station.

Andrew Gant, who is responsible for the scheme, defended the plan, stating that the “vast majority” of people accessing the station “already do so by modes other than the private car.”

The issue has been compounded by the ongoing closure of Botley Road, meaning Oxford’s main railway station can currently only be reached via Hythe Bridge Street and Thames Street, both of which are now subject to the congestion charge.

Image: BBC