Councillor Matthew Webb, who represents Bicester North, was appointed to the role on Tuesday and hopes to use the position to build stronger links between the council and the thousands of small businesses that contribute to Oxfordshire’s economy and communities.

Cllr Webb said: “Small businesses are incredibly important to Oxfordshire. They create jobs, support our high streets and town centres, innovate, invest in their communities and contribute enormously to the character and prosperity of the places in which we live.

“But running a small business is not always easy. Whether it is dealing with rising costs, recruitment and skills, transport and infrastructure, regulation, accessing support or simply finding the time to make their voice heard, small business owners face very real pressures.

“I want this role to provide a strong link between those businesses and the county council. A key part of that will be listening. I want to hear directly from businesses about what is working, what isn't, and where the council can either help or make it easier for businesses to succeed.

“I also want to make sure that when we develop policies and make decisions, we properly consider their impact on small businesses. Sometimes relatively small changes can make a significant difference to somebody trying to run a business.”

Like other member champion roles, such as active travel and cycling, and public transport, the small business champion is an unpaid and non-decision-making position aimed at supporting cabinet members and assisting in policy development.

Cllr Webb said he intends to meet businesses and business organisations across Oxfordshire, including those in the county’s towns, villages and rural communities.

“One thing I am particularly keen to avoid is assuming that we already know what businesses need,” he added. “Oxfordshire has an extraordinarily diverse economy, and the challenges facing a shop in one of our market towns may be very different from those facing a rural business, a manufacturer, a technology company or somebody who has just started working for themselves.”

Alongside his role as a county councillor, he has extensive professional experience working within the small business sector, including in the electronics distribution industry.

His work has given him first-hand experience of many of the practical issues facing smaller companies, including working with customers and suppliers, quality and environmental standards, regulatory requirements and the day-to-day realities of operating and growing a business.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “Small businesses are at the heart of our communities and are a key pillar of Oxfordshire’s economy. I’m looking forward to working with Cllr Webb to ensure we’re supporting small businesses across the county to thrive.”

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Eleven on-street sites in Berinsfield, Burford, Henley-on-Thames, Kidlington and Oxford were given the go-ahead at an Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member decision meeting on Thursday 3 September.

These sites are being delivered by the county council through a £4 million government funded programme to install more than 1,500 public chargers of different types by summer 2028. Most sites in the overall programme will be in off-street car parks, with the remainder on street.

Seven other on-street sites across Oxford, Shrivenham, Witney and Bampton were deferred, to allow time for more engagement and site assessment work.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “Approving these first sites marks an important step in making electric vehicle charging more widely available across Oxfordshire.

“There is more work to do before some sites can move forward, but we need to achieve a balance between ensuring residents without EVs can continue to park and access essential amenities and providing a public charger service that encourages EV take-up.

“Reliable public charging is essential if people are to have the confidence to switch to electric vehicles. This is particularly important for residents without driveways and for rural and underserved communities, so that nobody is left behind.”

When finished, the programme will more than double the number of currently available public EV chargers in Oxfordshire ahead of 2030 when no new petrol or diesel vehicles can be sold in the UK.

The Oxfordshire EV infrastructure programme involves four strands of work:

• providing public chargers in council-owned car parks
• providing public on-street chargers
• allowing residents to apply for EV cable channels outside their homes
• and working with town and parish councils to install EV charging microhubs at community facilities.

The programme is designed to help the estimated 30 per cent of Oxfordshire residents who do not have a driveway or private off-street parking where they could charge an EV.

More than 700 responses were received during a formal traffic regulation order consultation on the first 18 on-street sites, held from 8 July to 7 August 2026. The council considered concerns about parking pressure, footway space, and the appearance of equipment in conservation areas before the decisions were made.

The network is intended to be reliable, easy to use and contactless. Most on-street units will be standard 7.4kW chargers so that residents without home chargers can charge their EVs at discounted energy rates while parked for several hours or overnight. There will also be a smaller number of rapid 50kw+ chargers installed in strategic locations and where the electrical supply allows.

Future proposed charger sites are still being assessed to make sure they are suitable, practical and carefully planned. This includes checking the detailed design, technical feasibility and electrical connections before any final decisions are made.

For more information about this release contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Notes to editors

• In Oxford, Binsey Lane, Cowley Road, Hamilton Road, and Whitehouse Road/Salter Close were approved, with Hockmore Street, Water Eaton Road and Cuddesdon Way approved pending additional work to establish that a minimum of 1.5 metres of space is left clear on the footway when equipment is installed.
• The Cuddesdon Way site is also dependent on whether an alternative off-street site can be delivered instead.
• Latimer Road was deferred to allow for further consideration of wider parking changes in the area and pending the council being unable to find better supported alternative local sites.
• The Phelps site in Kidlington was approved pending the council being unable to find better supported alternative local sites.
• Sites in Shrivenham, Witney and Bampton were deferred to allow for more local engagement.
• EV parking spaces proposed for Deddington will be decided upon at an October cabinet member decision meeting.
• EV parking spaces proposed for Carterton and Eynsham will not go ahead at this time.
• Installation of approved sites remains subject to detailed design, technical feasibility and electrical connection work.
• Connected Kerb is a partner investor in the programme and will install and operate on-street chargers, as well as chargers at Oxfordshire County Council park and ride sites and other county council car parks.
• Bicester firm EZ-Charge will install and operate charging hubs in participating city and district council car parks.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

An initial pre-feasibility study by Oxfordshire County Council explored the potential for the new station on the Chiltern Main Line, including assessing viability and identifying key considerations for further development.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “A new station at Ardley is something we explored in last year’s OxRail 2040: Plan for Rail, our ambitious plan to improve rail transport and connectivity across Oxfordshire and the wider region.

“This latest study, which we commissioned, has shown that a station at Ardley could significantly enhance rail access for nearby communities currently reliant on road travel. It could also serve a wider catchment area with appropriate infrastructure, mitigating the effects of wider proposed growth and transport changes.”

The pre-feasibility study is an early evaluation to see if there is enough evidence to continue developing the Ardley station proposal and to identify opportunities and constraints without selecting a final design or committing to delivery.

An initial simple station concept includes two platforms, accessible facilities, and modest parking, with an estimated cost range of between £24 - 29 million. A possible location would be the site of the historic Ardley station and its sidings, which closed in 1963.

Any further work would need to include detailed assessments of location, design, costs, timetable integration, environmental impacts, stakeholder engagement, and funding options to support the next stage – a potential strategic outline case.

OxRail 2040 proposes four new stations – Oxford Cowley, Oxford Littlemore, Begbroke and Wantage & Grove – while also exploring the feasibility of a fifth at Ardley.

These schemes will be developed through business case, design and delivery in partnership with the government, the infrastructure manager, operators, developers, commercial partnerships and district councils.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council’s temporary congestion charge will be replaced by the traffic filter trial on 28 September as the council continues its work to tackle congestion, improve bus reliability and support sustainable travel across the city.

For most people who already hold a temporary congestion charge permit, there is no need to take any action as their permit will automatically transfer to the traffic filter scheme. However, Oxfordshire residents, businesses and organisations that do not currently hold a permit are being encouraged to check their eligibility and apply before the trial begins.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: "If you don't currently have a permit and think you may be eligible, now is the time to check and apply. Taking action now will help ensure a smooth transition when the trial begins on 28 September."

Applications can be made online. Residents in the Oxford permit area are eligible for 100 free day passes per year, while residents in the Oxfordshire permit area are eligible for 25 free day passes per year.

The traffic filter trial was approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet in November 2022 following a public consultation.

The temporary congestion charge was introduced in October 2025 as an interim measure while the Botley Road closure prevented the planned introduction of traffic filters. Monitoring data published monthly shows a number of encouraging trends.

Use of Oxford's park and ride network has increased significantly since the congestion charge was introduced. The most recent data for July 2026 shows that usage was up by 44 per cent at Redbridge, 33 per cent at Oxford Parkway and 31 per cent at Seacourt compared with the previous year.

Oxford Bus Company has reported around 41,000 additional passenger journeys per week across Oxfordshire compared with the same period last year, representing approximately 12 per cent growth. Around 17,450 of those journeys each week are linked to increased park and ride use.

The council's monitoring has recorded consistently lower traffic volumes on a number of key routes into Oxford, including Magdalen Bridge, Folly Bridge and Abingdon Road, which showed reductions of 8 per cent, 12 per cent and 5 per cent respectively in June 2026. At the same time, some outer and ring-road sections are experiencing increased traffic or longer journeys, such as the sections between Cutteslowe roundabout and Wolvercote roundabout, Headington and Marsh Lane, and the southern ring road around Kennington, Heyford Hill and Hinksey Hill.

More than 129,000 permits have been issued since the temporary congestion charge was introduced.

Councillor Epps added: "The experience of the temporary congestion charge has shown encouraging signs that people are changing how they travel and that traffic and journey times have improved on many routes into central Oxford. We have seen strong growth in park and ride use, significant increases in bus patronage and improvements in journey times on a number of key routes into the city.

"The traffic filter trial is the next step in helping us tackle congestion that has blighted the city for decades.

“A six-month public consultation will open on 28 September. Feedback from residents and businesses will help us shape our future plans. We are listening and learning as we develop the best long-term solution for traffic in and around Oxford.”

About the traffic filter trial

• The traffic filter trial will operate in a similar way to the temporary congestion charge, with the filters being at the same six locations and a permit scheme in place. The trial, under an experimental traffic regulation order, can last for up to a maximum of 18 months.
• The key difference is that, from 28 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to go through the traffic filters. However, with Botley Road open, everywhere in Oxford will be accessible by car at all times without driving through a traffic filter. You may need to take an alternative route, but often you won’t.
• Cars with valid permits and all other vehicles can travel through the filters at all times.
• At each traffic filter site, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will monitor and enforce the restrictions. There will be no physical barriers. Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).
• During the first six months of the traffic filter trial, the council will send a warning notice the first time any car goes through a traffic filter without using a permit, instead of sending a penalty charge notice.
• The scheme only applies to cars. All other vehicles are exempt. For those where car use is essential, there are 20 different types of permits e.g. for carers and community health and care workers, making travel around the city easier for these groups.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

As a result, Oxfordshire County Council is temporarily limiting the number of these items it can accept at its household waste recycling centres (HWRCs).

The council has written to government to ask for action to be taken.

Residents booking a fridge or freezer slot will see the daily availability online up to one week in advance, rather than the normal two-week window. Other materials and HWRC bookings are not impacted by this.

Households will be limited to one fridge or freezer booking every three months, although they can bring up to two of these items with each booking.

The council has also asked Oxfordshire’s district and city councils to make similar temporary restrictions on the collection of fridges and freezers to their bulky waste services. Residents will need to check the situation in their area with their district or city council.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “We are exploring every avenue to address the backlog and support residents to continue recycling. I have written to the government to suggest steps they could take to alleviate the situation at a national level.

“Unfortunately, our capacity for treatment nationally has been reduced by a third and we have now had to introduce temporary restrictions at our HWRCs to help manage a growing backlog as we seek to maintain the service for residents.

“We would also like to thank residents for their understanding and working with us through this nationally challenging period.”

People are reminded they can use retailer takeback schemes when buying a new appliance or resell or donate working units. Retailers must offer a like-for-like collection service, although they may charge for collection from the home.

Last week, Oxfordshire County Council announced it was temporarily stopping accepting the items from people living outside the county to prioritise Oxfordshire residents.

All the measures will be kept under constant review, and the council will make existing customers aware of any updates through the HWRC booking system.

Customers are reminded to book a slot online on the council’s website before visiting their HWRC.

Residents without internet access can book slots by phone by contacting the council’s customer service centre on 01865 519800 between 8.45am - 5pm, Monday - Thursday, and 8.45am - 4pm on Fridays.

Oxfordshire customers are also reminded to bring proof of address with them when visiting an HWRC – such as a driving licence or recent utility or council tax bill – as visitors from outside the county will be charged £15.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

From 21 September, Oxfordshire County Council will be carrying out traffic signal installation and improvement work to Islip Bridge to keep it safe, improve pedestrian access and reduce unsuitable through‑traffic in the village.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The work is needed because the bridge has deteriorated due to higher traffic volumes, including heavier vehicles. Action is required to protect the bridge and ensure safe use for everyone.

“We appreciate that the scheme is likely to cause significant disruption, but we will endeavour to complete the work as safely and quickly as possible.”

The first phase, from 21-25 September, will involve temporary traffic signals for preparation works.

Phase two, from 28 September - 20 November, involves the full closure of Islip Bridge to all motor vehicles, including buses. A signed diversion route will be in place, although pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained at all times.

The work will include the installation of permanent three-way traffic signals controlling vehicle movements across Islip Bridge; narrowing the carriageway to three metres to protect the bridge structure; installing a new 1.5 metre-wide footway on the west side of the bridge; and traffic calming on the southern approach.

Drainage repairs, resurfacing, footway improvements and new road markings will also be carried out, while Mill Street will be made one-way in advance of the scheme.

Staff will be present at either end of the bridge during the closure to manage safety and provide assistance.

Access to nearby properties and businesses will be accommodated where possible, although short delays may occur.

During the bridge closure, the H5 bus service between Bicester and the John Radcliffe Hospital will serve Islip from the north and then follow the diversion via Kidlington Road, Bicester Road, A40, to Barton and vice versa. 

A shuttle service will operate between Barton and the bus stop on the south side of the bridge.

The work was scheduled to take place after the summer harvest period, when agricultural traffic flows are lower. This helps reduce the impact on the surrounding road network, supports local communities and helps reduce the risk of delays.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council, which operates the county’s seven HWRCs, said it would temporarily stop accepting the items from people living outside the county in order to prioritise Oxfordshire residents.

The measure reflects a nationwide shortage of specialist facilities able to process fridges and freezers.

This has created a significant backlog across the sector, with some councils around the country suspending acceptance of all fridges and freezers at their HWRCs.

Oxfordshire County Council’s targeted approach is intended to reduce incoming tonnage and protect limited storage capacity, while maintaining the service for Oxfordshire households.

The HWRC booking system has been adjusted so that non-Oxfordshire customers can no longer select fridges or freezers when making a booking, and customers with existing bookings will also be contacted to advise them of the temporary restriction.

The situation will be kept under close review and the council will continue discussions with its contractor and disposal outlets.

Customers are reminded to book a slot online on Oxfordshire County Council’s website before visiting their HWRC. Bookings are available up to two weeks in advance or 30 minutes prior, subject to availability.

Residents without internet access can book slots over the telephone by contacting the council’s customer service centre on 01865 519800 between 8.45am - 5pm, Monday – Thursday, and 8.45am - 4pm on Fridays.

Oxfordshire customers are also reminded to bring proof of address with them when visiting an HWRC – such as a driving licence or recent utility or council tax bill – as visitors from outside the county will be charged £15.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The traffic filter trial will operate in a similar way to the temporary congestion charge, with the filters being at the same six locations and a permit scheme in place. The trial, under an experimental traffic regulation order, can last for up to a maximum of 18 months.

The key difference is that, from 28 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to go through the traffic filters. However, with Botley Road open, everywhere in Oxford will be accessible by car at all times without driving through a traffic filter. You may need to take an alternative route, but often you won’t.

Cars with valid permits and all other vehicles can travel through the filters at all times.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “I’m pleased that we are finally in a position to launch this important trial measure to reduce traffic in the city. The traffic filter trial aims to further reduce through-traffic and tackle congestion that has blighted the city for decades, creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive Oxford.

“A six-month public consultation will open on 28 September. Residents and businesses’ feedback will help us shape our future plans. We are listening and learning as we develop the best long-term solution for traffic in and around Oxford.”

Most people with congestion charge permits don’t need to take any action as their permits will be automatically transferred to traffic filter permits. The permit’s start date will revert to the traffic filter trial start date. Day pass allocations will automatically re-set to 100 for Oxford residents and 25 for Oxfordshire residents.

The council will be contacting all permit holders before the trial starts to explain what will happen next.

For people who don’t yet have a permit, applications are open online. Residents in the Oxford permit area are eligible for 100 day passes per year, while residents in the Oxfordshire permit area are eligible for 25 day passes per year.

The start date of the traffic filter trial is subject to Network Rail reopening Botley Road on 20 September.

About the traffic filter trial

• The traffic filter trial was approved by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet in November 2022, but implementation has been delayed because of the closure of Botley Road, due to Network Rail’s improvements to Oxford Rail Station.
• At each traffic filter site, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will monitor and enforce the restrictions. There will be no physical barriers. Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).
• During the first six months of the traffic filter trial, the council will send a warning notice the first time any car goes through a traffic filter without using a permit, instead of sending a penalty charge notice.
• The scheme only applies to cars. All other vehicles are exempt. For those where car use is essential, there are 20 different types of permits e.g. for carers and community health and care workers, making travel around the city easier for these groups.

The locations and operating times of the traffic filters will be the same as the temporary congestion charge:

- Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm

- Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

As highways authority, the council said it would issue fines and other fees – likely to total tens of thousands of pounds – against the company for closing the slip road in Marston without a valid permit, leading to an increase in heavy traffic travelling through the villages of Elsfield and Woodeaton.

By failing to obtain the necessary permit and working outside the agreed statutory process, the company prevented the council from managing the wider impact of the roadworks to minimise disruption.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “It’s completely unacceptable that they did this unilaterally and without agreement.

“We, as highways authority, need to agree and schedule roadworks in a planned and considered way and I will be challenging this company about why this happened.

“It has caused immense disruption to residents who have seen heavy goods vehicles, double decker buses and a huge amount of traffic diverted on to a single-track road through their tiny villages.

“This must not happen again, and we will be making that perfectly clear to the utility company involved while also making sure that this work is completed as soon as possible.”

The council has taken formal enforcement action in relation to the permit breach. A fixed penalty notice has been issued in accordance with national regulations – the highest level of penalty ordinarily available for this category of permit offence.

In May, the council’s lane rental scheme came into force – a system which allows it to charge companies up to £2,500 per day for working on the busiest roads at peak traffic times.

As the work took place on a designated lane rental road during periods where charging applies, the firm is expected to face fees of around £60,000.

Council officers will continue discussions with the company to ensure that appropriate improvements are made and that a similar situation does not arise again.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

As well as improving bus travel in the town, where congestion has historically affected journeys, the changes make it easier for people to walk to bus stops, shops, businesses and the rail station.

Oxfordshire County Council’s project, funded through the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan programme, provides a longer running lane along Cherwell Street and optimised traffic signals at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions.

Pedestrian crossings have also been improved and nearby drainage and gully infrastructure cleaned.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said: “I’m delighted that work on the Cherwell Street improvement project is now complete on time and that people can begin to experience the benefits it will bring. I’d like to thank residents, businesses and everyone who uses this route for their patience during construction.

“Cherwell Street is a main gateway into Banbury town centre and an important route for local bus services. These improvements will help buses move through the area more efficiently, improving reliability for passengers and helping make public transport a more attractive choice.

“The project has also delivered safer and more accessible pedestrian crossings, making it easier for people to get around the town centre and connect with local shops, services and Banbury station.

“These improvements are an important part of our wider commitment to creating a transport network that is safer, more reliable and supports sustainable travel across Oxfordshire.”

Construction started in January 2026.

Surfacing and road lining works finished on 17 July, and the new permanent traffic signals have just been tested and installed.

The Cherwell Street scheme forms part of the council’s wider commitment to creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive county where journeys are quicker, more connected, more flexible and more reliable.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Cherwell Street bus service improvement project focused on Cherwell Street, between the George Street and Bridge Street junctions, and the Bridge Street and George Street junctions themselves.

The completed project includes:

· a longer running lane along Cherwell Street for left-turning vehicles, including buses, travelling north-bound into Bridge Street (west)

· optimised traffic signals at the George Street and Bridge Street junctions to reduce delay for buses and cars

· improved pedestrian facilities with new, safer, and more direct crossings

· and lining and signing work to improve traffic flow, safety, and overall road user experience.

The project is largely funded by the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) programme and improvements to bus service reliability and journey times were core requirements.

Additional money from local developers (known as Section 106 contributions) funded crossing facility and signal improvements at the Bridge Street junction.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

From Monday 27 July, Oxfordshire County Council will start refurbishing Rose Hill roundabout traffic signals junction, which links the A4142 eastern bypass and Oxford Road between Rose Hill and Littlemore.

The project, due to last up to eight weeks, is being funded by a government grant for the council’s bus service improvement plan (BSIP).

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This is the first refurbishment of this important interchange since 1995, and the upgrade is going to deliver a significant improvement in the roundabout’s efficiency and the flow of the ring road.

“This is another clear demonstration of bus service investment in the county and our efforts to speed up bus journeys and make buses a more convenient and attractive mode of travel.”

The work, which will take place overnight to reduce disruption, will be carried out in two phases.

The existing poles will be replaced, and a new signal controller will control the intelligent bus priority function, allowing improvements to bus journey times

New extra low voltage (ELV) equipment will be installed with ELV LED signal heads which, as well as greatly reducing the power consumption and carbon footprint of the site, will reduce hazards in the event of accidental damage to the equipment.

The upgraded junctions are equipped with technology which detects the imminent arrival of buses and then changes the phasing to reduce delays for buses and keep them on time.

The countywide programme has been successful in obtaining over £2.1 million in bus grants from the Department for Transport’s BSIP / Bus Grant in recent years, which has supported the refurbishment of 31 traffic signal junctions. The ongoing programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30 has been allocated almost £1.5m.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council and its principal highways contractor M Group will be upgrading approximately 32 surface inlay sites, involving over 85,000 square metres of road, and three in-depth carriageway structural maintenance schemes, covering 20,838 square metres.

The programme is designed to renew worn and deteriorated road surfaces, improve driving conditions and reduce the need for more reactive repairs in the future. It also supports the council's commitment to reducing carbon emissions from highway maintenance activities.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “Following the extreme wet and cold weather we experienced last year, we will be using the summer months to get our roads ready to withstand the worst of the winters to come.

“This vital new programme will extend the life of roads by preventing water getting in, reducing the need for frequent repairs, enhancing skid resistance for safer travel, and smoothing out road surfaces.

“Prevention is better than cure. I know from my own division that the roads that were least affected by potholes this winter were the ones that had been resurfaced most recently.”

Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director, said: “Resurfacing is a vital pillar of highway maintenance, alongside preventative measures such as surface dressing and reactive repairs. We’re proud to be once again partnering with Oxfordshire County Council to deliver a comprehensive package of resurfacing.

“By investing in resurfacing at the right time, we can extend the life of the carriageway, improve safety for road users and help prevent more costly repairs in the future.”

In a county first, one of the structural maintenance schemes will incorporate ACLA, an innovative carbon-negative aggregate-like additive. The technology helps maintain the road's structural integrity while permanently locking carbon into the carriageway, contributing to a lower-carbon approach to highway maintenance.

Major roads to be resurfaced include:

• A44 Worcester Road, Chipping Norton (3 - 7 August)
• A40, Swinbrook (5 August)
• A361 Southam Road, Banbury (24 August - September)
• A361 Horsefair, Banbury (27 August - 11 September)
• A361 Southam Road/Horsefair crossroads (9 - 10 September)
• A40, Milton Common (21 - 22 September)
• Thames Street, Oxford (23 September to 24 September)
• Horspath Driftway, Oxford (28 September - 16 October).

Longer resurfacing schemes include:

• Upavon Way, Carterton (17 August - 25 September)
• Lower Icknield Way, Chinnor (29 September - 2 October)
• A44 Cross Hands (24 August - 6 November).

These dates include preliminary work which will usually take place under temporary traffic lights, ahead of the main surfacing work which will require road closures. To minimise public disruption, the surfacing work takes place overnight wherever possible.

All dates are subject to alteration due to the weather.

Motorists are asked to observe the diversion routes which will be in operation while the work takes place.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, is available on the council’s website.

The latest resurfacing work follows the council’s latest £8 million surface dressing road maintenance programme, most of which was completed between April and June.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The reopening of Botley Road was planned for the end of August when the programme, involving the upgrading of Oxford Station and local infrastructure, was reviewed and amended in January 2025 to prioritise the reopening of the road to traffic.

However, during excavation work relating to drainage for the new road, three minor gas leaks were identified on part of the gas network, owned by SGN. The pipe was not damaged by the Network Rail work.

In the interests of safety, and to avoid disruptive and unplanned work to repair potential gas leaks in the future, Network Rail has agreed to accommodate work by gas distribution company SGN to replace a section of their network beneath Botley Road, as well as completing existing Network Rail work.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is frustrating news for residents and businesses who have endured this closure for far too long as it is.

“We will continue to work with Network Rail and other partners to ensure the road can be reopened at the earliest possible time.

“As Network Rail has not released a revised opening date for Botley Road, we currently cannot say when our traffic filter trial will start and the temporary congestion charge will end. We will make an announcement in due course, once we can be certain about the reopening.”

Earlier this month the council announced that the traffic filter trial would replace Oxford’s temporary congestion charge on 14 September. Clearly this will not happen now, as the traffic filter trial will only begin after Botley Road has reopened.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The programme was agreed by Oxfordshire County Council thanks to information gathered during a project to inspect and clean every highway gully in the county last year.

There are around 147,000 gullies across Oxfordshire. In April 2025, the council launched a programme to inspect every gully and catchpit in the county over 12 months.

Working with partners M Group and Drainline, all gullies were inspected and 135,254 were cleaned at least once – around 92 per cent of the total.

Some could not be cleaned, despite repeat visits, due to parked cars, or issues such as seized lids, and have been flagged for follow-up visits.

Others were found to have more complex defects and have been added to the latest programme for further investigation and repair, confirmed by Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, on Thursday.

The additional £4m funding – taking the total investment to £9.42m – will help increase the number of drainage infrastructure repairs and investigations over the next two years and ensure that routine gully cleansing work is as effective as possible.

Cllr Leffman said: “Given the wet winter we had last year, and the extensive flooding that it caused, it’s important to maintain and clear gullies and make sure that broken infrastructure is replaced.

“We have a lot of broken gullies, due to many years of under investment. We know that by repairing them we will significantly improve drainage, particularly over the winter period. That’s why we have invested £4m over the next two years on gully infrastructure.

“This work will help to minimise network disruption, protect communities and property, and support safe, reliable travel. The programme will also prioritise preventative interventions, reduce reactive maintenance costs and strengthen our ability to respond to increasingly severe weather events.”

The programme will also see higher risk areas cleaned annually and others on a two-year cycle. Priorities are based on risk, using data from last year’s countywide programme, flood mapping and flood investigation reports.

The 2025-26 programme removed around 2,346 tonnes of waste from the county’s gullies.

The material was processed through a zero to landfill specialist waste recycling facility, where water was treated and discharged if not required for the wash plant, and sand and aggregate was recovered and re-sold.

Rubbish was sent to a materials recovery facility, followed by recycling or energy recovery, and nothing was knowingly sent to landfill.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council will carry out drainage improvements on Buttercross Lane from 3 – 28 August. The road will be shut from its junction with Willowbank while the work is carried out.

As the route is the only means of vehicular access, traffic management including marshals will be in place to manage the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “Residents have had to put up with flooding at this location for far too long due to a lack of proper maintenance by the developer prior to the road’s adoption by the council as highways authority.

“Officers have worked hard to come up with a solution to this problem, which was far from straightforward to resolve. Once completed, this should significantly reduce the risk of the road flooding whenever there is heavy rain.

“Although marshals will be present while the work takes place, there may be times when it is not possible for people to gain immediate passage through the site. When this happens, we would ask for patience and co-operation from the public.”

Before the project begins, survey work will take place to identify the depth of underground apparatus throughout the site. This element could result in some delays for those wishing access through the site.

Warning signs will be installed at the junction of Station Lane and Buttercross Lane two weeks before the start date.

During the work, one side of the carriageway will be left open, when feasible to do so, to allow residents to move through the site.

Temporary ramps will be installed on the kerb line to assist larger vehicles that need to travel through the site. This operation will be done under the guidance of one of the marshals.

Overnight barriers will be installed at the site while the work takes place, although one lane will be left open to enable the public to exit and enter Buttercross Lane.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The range of MyBus Oxfordshire tickets, which offer passengers daily or weekly travel around the county, covering most routes and operators for a fixed price, will see prices go up from 1 August 2026.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “MyBus has been a huge success. I do not want to change it. Government financial cuts are the only reason we are considering this unpalatable step.

“The revised fares will help ensure MyBus can continue to provide a convenient multi-operator ticket for passengers across Oxfordshire.

“These price changes are necessary to ensure that this important scheme can continue, in light of its growing popularity and the limited budget that Oxfordshire County Council has, to maintain operator participation.

“However, I will be writing to the secretary of state for transport to seek a better way forward for the future of MyBus.”

Since launching in 2024, MyBus has provided simple, flexible and great-value travel across Oxfordshire. The scheme has seen strong uptake – particularly among young people – and has helped residents and visitors make several hundreds of thousand journeys by bus.

Passenger feedback consistently highlights the convenience, flexibility and savings offered by being able to travel across multiple bus operators with a single ticket.

However, the government’s decision to increase the maximum single bus fare cap from £2 to £3 from 1 January 2025 meant that the savings offered by the MyBus tickets became more attractive, increasing sales, while also increasing the cost per ticket to Oxfordshire County Council. The initial budget for the scheme has now been exhausted, meaning that price increases are required to maintain the availability of the tickets.

The new prices will be:

• MyBus adult day ticket: £8.50 (previously £6.50)
• MyBus young person (5-18 inclusive) day ticket: £5.50 (previously £3.50)
• MyBus adult weekly ticket: £34 (previously £30)
• MyBus young person weekly ticket: £24 (previously £17).

Anyone affected by the changes may find that some operators’ own tickets – such as day, week or period products offered directly by bus companies – are cheaper for their journeys, particularly if they are only travelling on buses run by one company, or within the Oxford SmartZone. Check with your local bus operator for the best value ticket for your travel needs.

In addition, the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme is expected to result in free August bus travel for five to 15 year olds, meaning that families can continue to enjoy low-cost travel over the summer holidays.

The council has also made a commitment to introduce a new 28-day MyBus ticket for both adults and young people from 1 April 2027 as part of its role within the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership, a collaboration between the local authority and the county’s bus companies.

It was also agreed to consult with youth organisations within Oxfordshire on the emerging OXBus Plan 2040 and enhanced partnership, with particular focus on multi-operator tickets and bus travel costs.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Since the booking system began in January, 67 users have had their access blocked, saving the taxpayer thousands of pounds in disposal costs.

Customers must book a slot online on Oxfordshire County Council’s website before visiting their HWRC. Bookings are available up to two weeks in advance or 30 minutes prior, subject to availability.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “Household recycling centres are for household waste – not trade waste.

“Trader abuse of the HWRCs costs taxpayers thousands and undercuts legitimate traders who are paying to dispose of waste.

“The measures introduced earlier this year are preventing commercial waste from illegally entering HWRCs, ensuring taxpayers are not covering disposal costs and preventing unfair competition impacting legitimate trade waste operators.”

The council has been able to identify suspicious patterns of usage, including unusually high frequencies of visits, the use of multiple sites across the county, and activity inconsistent with normal household use.

This analysis has identified companies undertaking property clearance activities, handymen, professional gardeners and other businesses generating waste as part of their commercial operations.

One trader was found to have used the HWRC service more than 60 times in 2026, visiting all sites across Oxfordshire.

Where sufficient evidence is obtained that an individual is abusing the service, access to Oxfordshire’s HWRCs is blocked.

The figures were revealed in an update on the first five months since the changes were introduced at the HWRCs. Other changes included a requirement for customers to sort all their recyclable content, updates to the van and trailer permit scheme, and the introduction of a £15 charge for customers from outside the county to access Oxfordshire’s sites HWRCs.

The update also showed:

• Recycling, composting and reuse rates have increased month on month, driven by less waste being incinerated or landfilled, and more recycled
• Customers are bringing approximately 10kg more waste per visit than last year (increasing from about 45 to 55kg per visit).
• Over £130,000 was saved from February - April 2026, compared to the same period last year, mostly through avoided incineration and landfilling costs
• Over £10,000 was generated from the new out of county charges.

Although the number of visits is down 36 per cent compared to the same period last year, this reduction is thought to be driven by:

• Visitors delivering more waste across fewer visits
• Better prevention of trader abuse of the service
• Some non-Oxfordshire customers choosing to use facilities within their local authority area.

The county council and Oxfordshire’s district and city councils have been closely monitoring fly-tipping. Data does not indicate any new trends emerging since the changes were introduced, nor increases outside of normal ranges that may suggest the new HWRC policies are leading to more fly-tipping.

However, data will continue to be collected and analysed to ensure the best possible understanding of fly-tipping in Oxfordshire.

A wider review of the changes will be published in December 2026.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The updated guidance, agreed by the council’s cabinet in April 2026, aimed to enable a move towards more ‘car free’ and ‘car light’ developments, where appropriate.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “If every new development is designed around the assumption that car ownership and car use should continue to grow unchecked, congestion will simply get worse and journeys will become less reliable for everyone.

“However, it’s essential that our approach commands broad support and can be delivered successfully in practice.”

Representations received by the council highlighted the complexity of balancing transport, climate, and housing objectives – particularly social housing – with the need to ensure that any guidance is both ambitious and capable of effective implementation through the planning system.

The council will continue to work closely with local planning authorities, developers, and other stakeholders to review the issues that have been raised and consider whether reasonable refinements can be made that support both housing delivery and shared transport and climate ambitions.

Cllr Epps added: “We remain concerned that the growth demands of central government will be unachievable and result in chaotic levels of congestion unless we do something to address future car use.  Developers are encouraged to concentrate on how to build more homes, not more car parks.

“By working creatively and collaboratively across the sector, we are confident we can develop an approach that supports sustainable travel while also enabling the delivery of the homes and communities Oxfordshire needs.”

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Over recent years, heatwaves have become increasingly frequent, posing significant risk to Oxfordshire residents in unsuitable housing. Without appropriate adaptations in homes, higher temperatures can increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, lung disease and severe mental illness.

In summer 2025, there were 1,504 heat-associated deaths in the UK. The council believes that these deaths are unnecessary and avoidable. Now experts estimate that more than 2,700 people may have died due to heatwaves in England and Wales so far this year.

Under the Warm Homes Local Grant, the council currently receives funding from central government to install adaptations in homes to retain heat in winter. However, there is no funding specifically designed to support the retrofit of homes that suffer from overheating.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “England recorded its warmest June on record, with another heatwave hitting just two weeks later. This is not a one-off occurrence, but a new reality to which the UK must adapt.

“This is also a health inequalities issue, where those most at risk from heatwaves are often least able to afford effective home adaptations to prevent overheating, while also being more likely to have pre-existing health conditions, mobility limitations or social isolation. Without targeted investment there is a risk that climate adaptation widens health inequalities.

“Oxfordshire County Council is already working to address risk, and this summer will launch its pilot Heat Safe Homes programme. This will provide advice through home visits, local cool home training, community engagement, and the provision of cool packs. We are calling for central government support to expand this work to the scale needed to meet the challenge.”

The council believes that the government should consider expanding this Warm Homes Local Grant to include a Cool Homes Grant to protect our most vulnerable residents from overheating in their homes.

This grant would be used to help install passive and active cooling measures in vulnerable homes that are unable to afford them. External window shutters, blinds, improved ventilation, awnings, and air conditioning could all support these homes to be safe and liveable in summer.

The council has also called for the government to review current planning policies and building regulations which are currently constraining the uptake of external shading and ventilation measures.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council will fund the installation and initial maintenance costs of the cameras, which will detect vehicles travelling over the 50mph speed limit and identify vehicles jumping a red light in both directions. Thames Valley Police will be responsible for their ownership and operation.

The measures are in response to several collisions and near-misses since the junction to the Barton Park development opened, and follow concerns raised by residents and councillors.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This will be extremely welcome news to everyone who lives in or visits this area and needs to cross this road. Excessive speeds and red-light jumping are genuine concerns at this location, with a video survey showing how widespread the problem is.

“We are delighted at this example of working in partnership with our colleagues at Thames Valley Police to put in a deterrent, which will make this road safer. Motorists who follow the rules will have nothing to fear. Those show disregard for others’ safety by breaking them will face the consequences.”

Chief Inspector Jade Hewitt, of Thames Valley Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Road safety remains a priority for Thames Valley Police, and we welcome the installation of these safety cameras at the Barton Park junction. We are aware of concerns regarding speeding and red-light offences at this location, and the evidence gathered has demonstrated the need for further enforcement measures.

“The cameras will act as both a deterrent and an enforcement tool, encouraging motorists to comply with the speed limit and traffic signals, helping to reduce the risk of serious collisions. Speeding remains one of the Fatal Five factors that contribute to the most serious and fatal collisions on our roads, alongside drink and drug driving, distraction, not wearing a seatbelt and careless driving.

“Most drivers use our roads responsibly, but those who choose to ignore the law and put others at risk should expect to be held accountable.

“We are pleased to be working alongside Oxfordshire County Council as part of our shared commitment to improving road safety and protecting all road users across Oxfordshire.”

The funding is coming from the council’s Vision Zero programme, its ambition to eliminate death and serious injuries from road collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.

The poles and cameras will be painted bright yellow to be as visible as possible to drivers, and advance warning signage has been approved by Thames Valley Police.

Installation work is scheduled to take place overnight, from 8pm - 6am, for up to four nights from Monday 20 July.

Traffic management will be in place, including lane closures when necessary to allow for safe working. The eastbound left-turn into Barton Park will be closed at times, and a diversion via the Headington roundabout will be in operation.

Residents are warned that some of the excavation work will be noisy, as vacuum excavation techniques are necessary due the presence of underground gas and electricity utilities.

Another recent addition to improve road safety in the area was the installation of flashing amber light warning signs either side of Barton Park Primary School.

This was also funded through the council’s Vision Zero programme and warns drivers of the likely presence of children crossing the road at school start and finish times.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

During her visit, Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones MBE met pioneering businesses and research organisations across the county, including Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.

The visit highlighted Oxfordshire’s strengths in cutting-edge sectors such as quantum computing and space, and explored new opportunities for collaboration, investment and shared learning with partners in Taiwan.

The representative visited world-leading organisations including QuEra, a global leader in neutral-atom quantum computing, and RAL Space, the UK’s national space laboratory. The programme provided a first-hand view of how Oxfordshire’s innovation ecosystem is turning research into real-world impact.

This visit builds on a growing programme of diplomatic engagement in the county. Following the success of last year’s visit by Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby CMG, the Head of the UK Mission to the European Union, further roadshows are planned over the coming months to strengthen international partnerships and promote regional growth.

These domestic roadshows form part of the government’s wider effort to connect global partners with UK regions, enabling trade, investment and long-term economic opportunity.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “I’m delighted to have welcomed the UK Representative in Taiwan to Oxfordshire, and to see continued international interest in what our county has to offer.

“Oxfordshire is home to one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems in the world, with strengths across several internationally significant sectors. But our ambition goes beyond growth alone – we are focused on delivering growth that is sustainable, inclusive and benefits communities across the county.

“By building stronger international partnerships and opening up new opportunities for collaboration and investment, visits like this help ensure that our success is shared more widely, supporting good jobs, thriving places and a greener future.

“We look forward to continuing to work with partners in Taiwan and welcoming further international delegations to Oxfordshire in the months ahead.”

Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones MBE said: “It was a pleasure to visit Oxfordshire and see first-hand the innovation, talent and ambition that make it one of the UK’s leading science and technology clusters. I was inspired by the world-class work taking place across the county, from quantum technologies and space science to cutting-edge research and entrepreneurship.

“Taiwan is a natural partner for the UK, with complementary strengths in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, research and emerging technologies. The presence of Taiwanese companies such as MSI and Acer in Oxfordshire reflects the strong links already connecting our innovation ecosystems.

“I see significant opportunities for deeper UK–Taiwan collaboration and look forward to supporting new partnerships between Taiwan’s technology sector and the UK’s leading innovation clusters.”

Monika Zemla, Director, Leasing & Business Development, at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus said: “We were delighted to welcome the UK Representative in Taiwan, Ruth Bradley-Jones MBE, to Harwell and showcase the breadth of innovation taking place across our campus. Harwell is home to a unique community of world-leading organisations, pioneering companies and research facilities, making it an ideal place to build international partnerships that translate cutting-edge science into real-world impact.

“Strengthening links with Taiwan creates exciting opportunities for collaboration in areas such as quantum technologies, space, health and advanced engineering, helping to drive innovation, investment and economic growth for both our nations.”

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council ‘s principal highways contractor M Group has welcomed the arrival of a 3.5-tonne highways maintenance truck – the first hydrogen-powered vehicle across the company’s 10,000 vehicle UK-wide fleet.

It marks a significant step in both M Group’s and the council’s commitments to reducing carbon emissions.

Compared to diesel, HVO and hydrogen fuel has significantly lower tailpipe carbon emissions by an average of 30 - 40 per cent. It also reduces emissions affecting air quality, such as nitrogen oxide, which support cleaner air across Oxfordshire.

While the fuel source is new, the vehicle is not.

Hydrogen technology specialists ULEMCo have retrofitted a standard maintenance truck, with the conversion funded by M Group. ULEMCo will also adapt a second vehicle, expected to be a medium or larger HGV, which will join the Oxfordshire fleet early in 2027.

Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director, said: “M Group Highways has an ambitious target of being net zero carbon by 2040. We’re excited to be working with Oxfordshire County Council to trial practical solutions that can accelerate the journey to net zero.”

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The climate emergency is the biggest challenge the planet faces, and we are committed to not only reaching our own net zero target as a council by 2030 but to enabling Oxfordshire to be carbon neutral well ahead of 2050.

“We are delighted to be working with M Group to trial this innovative technology which will mean lower emissions and cleaner air across Oxfordshire.”

The dual fuel vehicles will be used to transport crews and materials to sites to carry out repairs and improvements on Oxfordshire’s roads.

Highways crews have received in depth training on how to refuel, maintain and operate the converted vehicles, with a particular focus on driver and public safety.

The drivers’ experience – along with a host of metrics, such as costs and fuel usage efficiency – will help assess the overall success of the trial.

With HGVs and trucks contributing around 17 - 21 per cent of road transport emissions, Oxfordshire’s trial could be pivotal in accelerating the UK’s transition to hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council has commissioned consultants Jacobs to carry out an options appraisal for a mass rapid transit (MRT) system between Carterton, Witney, Eynsham and Oxford.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The closure of the Witney railway in 1970 and subsequent largescale development in the area have proved to be costly and mistaken. Reversing congestion and improving connectivity won't be easy – but it is essential that we try to address this.

“We want to identify, evaluate and recommend feasible options which can be in place by 2050 at the latest. The study will consider existing and planned infrastructure, as well as projected housing and employment growth.

“Current and forecasted travel demands, plus national, regional and local policy aimed at prioritising sustainable transport, mean that a major change in public transport provision is needed. Projects like this could help provide that.”

Bruce Slattery, Jacobs’ Director for Transport Planning, said: “Jacobs is supporting Oxfordshire County Council with the early-stage development of the west Oxfordshire mass rapid transit project. Through this work, we are helping to define a transport solution that will deliver essential public transport connections to the area and help to stimulate sustainable economic growth.”

An MRT system is a public transport network typically operating on dedicated corridors or priority lanes to offer reliable and efficient services. Unlike standard bus or rail services, MRT systems often use advanced vehicles, benefit from priority measures, and feature high-quality infrastructure such as segregated lanes or tracks, level boarding, and integrated ticketing.

West Oxfordshire is experiencing significant pressure from housing and employment growth, with Carterton, Witney, and Eynsham identified as key areas for development with up to 18,000 new homes and 60 hectares of employment proposed to be delivered by 2043.

Carterton is also home to the UK’s largest and potentially expanding RAF base required for national security while the Cotswolds is a national tourism hub with visitor numbers increasing annually.

Oxford, as a regional employment and educational hub, is facing increasing congestion and demand for sustainable travel options. The A40 corridor, the primary route serving west Oxfordshire, is subject to ongoing and planned improvements, in particular focused on prioritising bus services.

An MRT system is being considered to address the challenges, improve connectivity, and support sustainable regional growth.

It is expected that the chosen system will form part of the Oxfordshire Metro as discussed in the council’s recent OxRAIL 2040: Plan for Rail.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Since 2025, Oxfordshire County Council has been reviewing speed limits and safety on its network as part of its Vision Zero programme to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the network.

The review looks at whether existing speed limits are appropriate, using evidence such as collision data, road layout and how routes are used.

This has led to speed limit reductions on some stretches of road, including lowering national speed limit sections to 50mph or 40mph, alongside other measures such as junction changes or traffic management where risks have been identified.

The aim is to make rural roads safer for all users, recognising that many routes are narrow, winding and shared by drivers, cyclists, walkers, and horse riders.

Provisional government statistics published in late May suggest that the council’s approach is helping lead to significant improvements in road safety, with serious and fatal collisions in Oxfordshire falling sharply.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This review is all about reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The premise that no one should be killed or seriously injured as the result of a road collision, whatever mode of transport they are using, is at the heart of our Vision Zero strategy.

“Making sure speed limits are safe and appropriate is key to achieving this. Oxfordshire’s last major A and B road speed limit review was carried out 15 years ago, so this review is much needed.

“While it was heartening to see that Oxfordshire is seeing significant improvements in road safety, according to recent provisional government data, we are far from complacent. Every death is one too many. Indeed, it has strengthened our resolve to push on and make conditions safer on more of our rural roads.”

So far, the review has led to changes being approved on stretches of the A4074, A40, A420 and A417, as well as corridors such as the A4260 and associated B roads. Additionally, a consultation on changes on the A361 has been completed with a decision to be taken in July on whether to progress these.  

Now around 60 more schemes are coming forward in 2026-27 as part of the Vision Zero programme.

Stakeholder consultation will begin later this month including with parish and town councils, Thames Valley Police, and bus operators. This will be followed by statutory consultation later in the year, where the public will be invited to have their say.

Cllr Epps added: “It is important for people to realise that the review is not about introducing blanket changes across the county. This is a bespoke approach. Proposals are assessed case by case, consulted on publicly, and monitored once implemented to ensure they are effective.

“The review is a data-led reassessment of safety and speed on Oxfordshire’s main rural routes. Officers are using current Department for Transport criteria on speed limits to guide the changes to be considered.”

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Today Oxfordshire County Council approved a grant of £306,200 for the Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire to continue its work for 2026 - 27.

This includes £100,000 in one-off public health funding in support of enhancing community gardening and land skills, addressing climate anxiety through social action, and the Heat Safe Homes project.

Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “CAG Oxfordshire has been running for 25 years in the county and is the largest network of its kind in the country. It is full of committed and passionate groups doing great things in their local communities, working on waste, energy, transport, biodiversity, food and social justice.

“As a council, we are delighted to enter a one-year grant funding arrangement and will be working with them going forward to ensure we continue to support their great work, while being mindful of the significant funding challenges faced by the council in future years.”

The county council has fully funded the network since 2001. The latest grant will run until 31 March 2027 while the council considers its other voluntary and community sector offerings.

In 2024 - 25, CAG Oxfordshire held over 8,000 events and activities, attracting more than 120,000 attendees, and brought almost £6 million in funding and income to the county.

Katherine Chesson, Director of CAG Oxfordshire, said: “CAG Oxfordshire is grateful to the county council for its ongoing commitment to the thousands of volunteers who are making a difference on issues of social change that affect us all.

“Our member groups undertake activities that range from supporting residents to grow and cook nutritious food with zero waste; hosting libraries of things and repair cafes to encourage repairing and sharing over buying new; engaging people in nature recovery and nature engagement plans; and working to bring wealth and power back to communities.”

The council’s policies and strategies benefit from the groups’ activities and awareness-raising on topics such as social justice and equity, waste reduction and recycling, energy, climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and flooding.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

This week, Oxfordshire County Council and its highways contractor M Group used Wildmere Road in Banbury as a test site to trial 15 different methods of filling in potholes or ‘patching’ minor defects.

Some of these methods are already used in Oxfordshire, while the others were new technology sourced by M Group.

Wildmere Road was closed and a 700-metre stretch was divided into sections. Each section had a different type of pothole or patch repair carried out to get a direct comparison of the various methods.

It is the second time the council has carried out a pothole repair innovation event, following a similar trial in Steventon in 2023, believed to have been the first of its kind in the country. Seven repair methods were trialled in 2023, making this week’s event a much larger undertaking.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair, said: “The impact of potholes on our roads this winter, not just in Oxfordshire but nationwide, has been unprecedented.

“We are committed to seeking new and innovative methods of carrying out repairs on our 3,000 mile road network. Technology is changing all the time and it is important to test the latest products to maximise value for money when it comes to highway maintenance.

“The 2023 event led to us adopting several new methods of repair, and ruling out others, so we hope this latest trial will provide evidence and information for our contractors about what repair methods work best by testing them on the same stretch of road.”

Since January 2026, M Group has repaired more than 33,000 highways defects – compared to 37,042 potholes filled in the whole of the 2024 - 25.

This was against a backdrop of perfect pothole-forming weather conditions this winter – a prolonged freeze followed by a protracted period of rain, which led to an unprecedented increase in the number of emergency pothole reports. The council was receiving more than 1,000 reports a week, reaching over 1,300 defects in a single week in early March.

As a result, the number of repair crews was increased from seven to 25 to reduce a backlog of potholes caused by the weather. More specialist crews and equipment were also brought in, including a ‘Bobcat’ planer, Dragon Patcher and thermal road repairs.

Richard Lovewell, M Group Business Director, said: “From introducing the Dragon Patcher back in 2015 to hosting the UK’s first pothole trial day in 2023, M Group and Oxfordshire County Council have a strong track record of working together to find better ways to maintain and repair roads.

“This latest trial is about building on that progress. By testing new products and approaches we can ensure that we are using the best value materials in the right conditions and the right places, increasing efficiency and durability, and delivering better value for Oxfordshire residents.

“With wetter winters and hotter summers, it is vital we keep adapting our maintenance techniques to cope with increasing pressure on our road networks.”

Wildmere Road will be monitored regularly over the next two years to allow comparisons of the type of repair, equipment, material, and labour used, and the time taken.

This will include an understanding of the potential results, longevity of repairs, waste generated, carbon impact, use of recycled content and productivity that may be achievable.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

A survey of businesses across Oxford, together with newly published consumer spend data from Experian, reveals how business conditions and performance have changed since the temporary congestion charge was introduced. 

The temporary congestion charge has been in place on six roads in Oxford since 29 October to help reduce traffic while Botley Road remains closed and the traffic filter trial is delayed.  

The survey, carried out by Indiefield on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, shows nearly half of businesses (48%) reported no noticeable effect from the congestion charge, with 30 per cent reporting negative impacts and 22 per cent positive. Meanwhile, spend in Oxford city centre since the congestion charge was introduced has declined the same amount as the average in comparable centres outside Oxfordshire. 

Councillor Gareth Epps, Cabinet Member for Transport at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This new data gives us an evidence-based picture of how businesses are faring in the city. There are many challenges affecting businesses at this time, and data can help us understand what is having an impact. While it’s great that nearly 80 per cent of businesses who gave a view on their performance compared to a year ago said they are doing the same or better it is clear that many are feeling significant pressures due to a number of local and national factors.

“There is still more to do to improve travel in and around Oxford and help keep the city moving. The traffic filters trial, from autumn, is one way we’ll further reduce traffic.” 

The survey also highlighted wider pressures facing businesses, with rising costs (69%) and economic uncertainty (61%) cited as the most common challenges. At the same time, Oxford continues to be seen as a great place to do business, with 71 per cent of respondents highlighting location and accessibility as a key advantage and 72 per cent saying their business is performing well. 

The survey gathered views from 300 businesses across OX1 to OX4 postcode areas and provides a detailed snapshot of business sentiment, operational pressures and travel behaviour. 

• 39 per cent say deliveries or servicing have become more difficult
• More businesses report customer decreases (29%) than increases (21%)
• More than half of businesses (56%) say that staff have changed how they travel to work as a result of the scheme.
• Businesses in retail, hospitality and tourism are more likely to report negative effects.

Among these “shop-front” businesses:

• 47 per cent report a negative overall impact (compared with 24 per cent of other businesses)
• 58 per cent report a decrease in customer numbers (compared with 18 per cent of other businesses)

Spend in Oxford’s suburban food and beverage destinations has declined more than the average in comparator areas. All car parking in suburban areas is accessible without passing a congestion charge point. 

Businesses with mobile or transport-intensive operations reported sharper pressures on their trade in this period, particularly around costs and travel. 

Spend in most of Oxford’s suburban mixed retail destinations has declined more than the average in comparator cities. 

The survey report and spend data is published alongside other monitoring information for the congestion charge.

Notes 

The spend data is provided by the credit reporting company Experian and comes from a national sample of around four million debit and credit cards. The figures show year-on-year estimated change in credit and debit card spending for the months since the temporary congestion charge was implemented.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Martin has led Oxfordshire County Council since March 2023, bringing with him more than 25 years’ experience in senior leadership roles across local government. 

Prior to joining Oxfordshire, he served as Chief Executive of Coventry City Council for over 14 years, during which time the city saw its most significant transformation since the post-war period.

Under his leadership, Coventry became the first Marmot City in the country using innovative approaches to reducing health inequalities. He continued his work with Professor Sir Michael Marmot and the health equity team at University College London as Oxfordshire launched the first countywide Marmot place in 2024.

He was also instrumental in establishing the West Midlands Mayoral Combined Authority and was its first Chief Executive from March 2016 to September 2017. 

Throughout his career Martin has been at the forefront of public service reform, driving innovation, partnership working and transformation programmes across complex organisations. His leadership has helped shape modern local government, including his role as a former President of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and the first Honorary President of LARIA (Local Area Research and Intelligence Association).

Martin said: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this award. Local government is ultimately about people and unique places and, over the past 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside dedicated and passionate colleagues and councillors who make a real, positive difference in their communities every day. 

“The best of local government is when we bring people together across a place, understand what really matters locally, and help create the conditions for positive change. This award genuinely reflects that collective effort.”

Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Councillor Tim Bearder, said: “This honour is thoroughly deserved. Martin has made a real and lasting difference in Oxfordshire and across local government more widely. He combines insight, integrity and ambition with a genuine commitment to public service and improving the lives of the people we serve.

“His good humour, approachable nature and personable leadership style make him a real pleasure to work alongside. I particularly admire his willingness to explore new solutions and drive innovation to create a better and more effective council.

“We’re extremely fortunate to have him as our Chief Executive, and I’m delighted to see his contribution recognised in this way.”

The King’s Birthday Honours recognise individuals who have made a significant impact in their field or community. Martin’s OBE reflects a career dedicated to improving public services, strengthening local government, and delivering lasting benefits for communities.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Over the next two years, Oxfordshire residents will benefit from the largest installation of public electric vehicle (EV) charging points ever seen in the county following the award of two charge point operator (CPO) contracts.

Connected Kerb and Bicester-based EZ-Charge have been chosen to provide more than 1,500 public EV charging sockets, doubling the number currently available.

Connected Kerb has been selected to install and operate on-street EV chargers on the highway, as well as Oxfordshire County Council-run park and ride sites and other car parks. EZ-Charge has been chosen to install and operate EV charging hubs in district and city council car parks in Oxfordshire.

These two companies will work together with Oxfordshire’s councils to create a reliable, easy-to-use, contactless EV charging network spanning the county. This will give more people the opportunity to switch to an EV – regardless of where they live or their parking situation – to improve Oxfordshire's environment and air quality.

Public EV charger deployment will be prioritised in areas where a high proportion of residents lack off-street parking. Site feasibility will be one of the first priorities of the new CPOs, and so announcements about locations will not be made until later.

Oxfordshire County Council is also set to launch a community microhub scheme by inviting town and parish councils and other non-profit-making community organisations to host public EV charging points in car parks at community hubs such as village halls, community centres and sports pavilions. Six pilot sites have been chosen to have EV chargers installed later this year ahead of the scheme opening for formal applications.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This programme will provide a huge confidence boost to drivers looking to switch to EVs and build on our leadership in this field.

“One of our top aims is to get reliable, accessible public EV charging into rural and deprived areas. This will help ensure that nobody will be left behind in the transition to driving electric.”

Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, said: “We are thrilled to have won the Oxfordshire contract and look forward to bringing our tried and tested EV charging solutions and innovative smart charging tariffs to the area.

“As one of the UK’s largest and most experienced CPOs, we look forward to meeting the growing EV charging needs of Oxfordshire’s residents, visitors and commuters and providing the highest standards in EV charging and customer service.”

Phil Shadbolt OBE, CEO of EZ-Charge, said: “It’s really exciting to be working with Oxfordshire councils again to install and operate EV charging hubs in district council car parks. Our experience from Park and Charge Oxfordshire has shown that providing high quality charging facilities in residential areas can give people without driveways the confidence to make the switch to EV.

“As a local company, we are particularly proud to be able to provide reliable and accessible EV charging to local residents where they really need it most.”

Funding comes from a combination of Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) and other grant funding from the government and significant private investment from the two CPOs.

Keir Mather, Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, said: “We know charging availability is one of the biggest barriers to people going electric so it’s great to see over £3.6m of our investment rolling out 1,500 new public chargers in Oxfordshire, more than doubling the number available to drivers in the area.

“We’re also cutting upfront costs for families when they buy a new EV with our Electric Car Grant helping over 55,000 drivers save up to £3,750.”

The focus will be on standard 7kW chargers that residents without home chargers can charge their EVs with at discounted energy rates whilst parked overnight.

There will also be a smaller number of rapid 50kw+ chargers installed in strategic locations and the whole network will provide much needed top-up charging for residents, visitors, commuters and working drivers during the daytime.

West Oxfordshire District Council Cllr Andrew Prosser, Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, said: “Expanding public charging in this way means more people can make the switch to electric with confidence. We at West Oxfordshire District Council are pleased to play our part in a countywide effort that gives residents real, practical choices where they haven’t previously had them.”

Councillor Mike Giles, South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Policy and Climate Action, said: “Putting chargers in micro hubs such as village halls is the way forward for rural areas. In South Oxfordshire Stanton St John village hall installed EV chargers, thanks to a council grant. Increasing the charging network across the county gives people confidence to make the switch to EVs wherever they live.”

Councillor Dr Robert Clegg, Vale of White Horse District Council Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Action and Nature Recovery, said: “Many people want to reduce their carbon footprint and local air pollution, but it isn’t always practical to switch completely to public transport in our rural area, and not everyone can charge off-street at home. These contracts will give rural would-be EV owners access to charging sites, just as we already have at some of our town-based council car parks.”

Councillor Rob Pattenden, Cherwell District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Property and Assets, said: “Cherwell District Council is enabling this project by supporting the installation of electric vehicle charging points across our parking infrastructure. This investment is essential in Cherwell, where many residents do not have access to on-street charging.

“In addition, the district has significant transient traffic, increasing the demand for conveniently located charging facilities. By expanding access to charging infrastructure, we are making it easier for people to transition to electric vehicles. This will help reduce pollution; improving local air quality, whilst lowering the region’s impact on climate change.”

Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning and Zero Carbon Oxford at Oxford City Council, said: “This is a really positive step forward in expanding Oxford’s public EV charging network. Making charging more accessible, particularly for residents without off-street parking, is key to enabling more people to switch to electric vehicles. We’re pleased to be working alongside partners across Oxfordshire to deliver infrastructure that supports the transition to EVs. ”

Last year, as part of the same government backed EV infrastructure programme, Oxfordshire County Council announced it had awarded the contract to ODS for the delivery of EV cable channel charging installations for homes without off-street parking.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The future investments agreed include an amended offer for park and ride bus travel in Oxford, with the introduction of a £3 combined ticket, covering 16 hours’ parking and return bus travel for up to five people, from mid-August until the end of March 2027, and additional benefits for other groups; including for NHS and school staff working in Oxford.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The temporary congestion charge is giving residents and visitors to the city faster journeys, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets.

“We now have an opportunity, with the funding from the scheme, to support some measures with lasting impact that will improve convenience and road safety for the most vulnerable road users. The measures we have agreed to fund today go some way towards tackling some of the persistent traffic problems we’ve seen, and also help to spread the benefits of the scheme as widely as possible, ensuring workers in our schools and hospitals, too, see the benefits.”

Free park and ride bus travel was first introduced on 29 October to support the temporary congestion charge, which has been implemented as an interim measure while Botley Road remains closed, preventing the start of the traffic filter trial.

Other initiatives that will be funded by the temporary scheme include:

• Free weekday park and ride parking and free or discounted weekday bus travel for NHS and school staff working in Oxford – subject to further discussion with NHS trusts, schools and Oxford City Council.
• Hospital express park and ride services.
• Free bus travel for six months per participant in the council’s Connect to Work programme for 2026 - 27.
• Active travel infrastructure work to address 'missing links' in the active travel network, including pedestrian crossings, side road entry treatments, and secure cycle parking.
• Investigating a limited trial of subsidised bus season tickets for certain communities.

Up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket are currently able to claim free travel to and from park and ride sites in the city. The tickets must be obtained from the bus driver at a park and ride site, and are valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that stops at a park and ride site in Oxford, not just named park and ride services. 

Further details about agreed initiatives will be made available on the council’s website.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The Cottesmore footbridge, used by pedestrians and cyclists to cross the A4142 Eastern Bypass, near the Heyford Hill roundabout, has been closed for safety reasons.

The footbridge, which connects Cottesmore Road to Thomson Terrace and links to the Sainsbury’s supermarket, was closed after Oxfordshire County Council inspectors identified safety concerns with the structure.

A diversion route for pedestrians will be in place via the Rose Hill subway on a street-lit route, without any steps. An alternative shorter route to Sainsbury’s via the pedestrian crossing adjacent Heyford Hill roundabout is available but involves steps or a steep ramp and is not all lit at night.

Councillor Rebekah Fletcher, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We appreciate how popular this footbridge is, and how important it is for the communities of Rose Hill and Littlemore.

“However, our top priority is always the safety of the public, and we will not compromise on that. The decision to close the bridge has not been taken lightly, but it was the only option in the circumstances.”

Engineers from the council and its principal highways contractor M Group will now consider options to determine the best plan of action for the footbridge for the long term.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

A consultation on private, for-profit schemes is being run jointly by Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council and runs from 12 May - 14 June 2026.

People can read the consultation documents and complete the questionnaire through the online consultation portal Let’s Talk Oxfordshire.

Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “Oxfordshire has huge potential to play a significant role in the move towards cleaner, more secure energy. But it is also important that our communities have a voice in how the benefits of that transition are shaped and shared.

“This consultation is about listening early. We want as many people as possible to tell us what a fair and practical approach should look like.”

Across Oxfordshire, more renewable energy and battery storage projects are expected to come forward over the coming years as part of the transition to a cleaner, more secure energy system.

Oxfordshire’s councils want to make sure that where communities host large-scale low-carbon energy infrastructure – such as ground mount solar, batteries or wind – there is a clearer, fairer and more consistent way to discuss long-term local benefits.

The proposed interim policy does not determine how much renewable energy is built in Oxfordshire. Planning decisions are made entirely on their own merits by local planning authorities and the government.

The proposed interim policy is attempting to ensure that where projects are approved, communities have an opportunity to get a fair share of negotiated benefits. The policy will provide a shared framework for how councils, communities and developers can discuss voluntary community benefits and shared ownership separately from planning decisions.

Community benefit contributions are payments or other forms of support offered by developers to communities hosting low-carbon energy infrastructure to secure local value from hosting. These contributions can support local priorities such as community facilities, nature recovery, energy efficiency, skills, fuel poverty reduction, or other projects identified by communities.

Community shared ownership is where communities may have the opportunity to take a financial stake in a renewable energy project, allowing more of the value created by clean energy infrastructure to be retained locally.

The consultation is open to everyone, including residents, parish and town councils, community organisations, energy developers, landowners, local businesses, investors, infrastructure providers and other interested stakeholders.

Feedback received through the consultation will be used to inform the final version of the interim policy before it is considered by each council throughout the summer.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The amended proposals include an amended offer for park and ride in Oxford, with the possible introduction of a £3 combined ticket until the end of December 2026, and additional benefits for other groups; including for NHS and school staff working in Oxford.

Free park and ride bus travel was introduced on 29 October to support the temporary congestion charge, which has been implemented as an interim measure while Botley Road remains closed, preventing the start of the traffic filter trial.

Other proposed initiatives that could also be funded by the temporary scheme include:

• Free weekday park and ride parking for NHS and school staff working in Oxford for nine months from 1 June 2026, for work travel.
• Free weekday bus travel for NHS and school staff working in Oxford for nine months from 1 June 2026, for work travel.
• Hospital express park and ride services for 12 months from 1 October 2026.
• Active travel infrastructure, including pedestrian crossings, side road entry treatments, and secure cycle parking.
• Free bus travel for six months per participant in the council’s Connect to Work programme for 2026 - 27.
• A limited trial of subsidised bus season tickets for certain communities.
• Improved active travel infrastructure to deal with 'missing links' in the active travel network as already identified in council policy and plans.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “The temporary congestion charge is giving residents and visitors to the city faster journeys, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets.

“We now have an opportunity, with the funding available, to explore some ideas with lasting impact that will improve travel safety and the environment. I look forward to cabinet discussing this in more detail next month.

“It’s my hope that some of these lasting benefits from the temporary congestion charge will also support the transition to the traffic filters trial after Botley Road reopens.”

The free park and ride bus travel offer is currently set to continue until 31 May 2026.

Up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket are able to claim free travel to and from park and ride sites in the city. The tickets must be obtained from the bus driver at a park and ride site, and are valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that stops at a park and ride site in Oxford, not just named park and ride services. 

Further details about proposed initiatives will be made available when confirmed by cabinet.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

For safety reasons, Oxfordshire County Council will be shutting the centres for two days – although never at the same time – to allow for deep cleaning and essential maintenance.

This includes jet washing the sites and structures, repainting lines and safety areas, as well as other general work to improve the customer experience.

The closing dates are:

• Oakley Wood, near Wallingford: Thursday 7 and Friday 8 May
• Alkerton, near Banbury: Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 May
• Ardley, near Bicester: Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May
• Stanford in the Vale, near Faringdon: Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 May
• Drayton, near Abingdon: Thursday 21 and Friday 22 May
• Dix Pit, Stanton Harcourt: Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 June.

All closures are on quieter weekdays to minimise disruption and sites will reopen at 8am the following day.

The deep clean for Redbridge HWRC in Oxford will be carried out later in the year and full details will be provided in due course. Redbridge is also due to close for around three months in the summer for essential safety work.

Customers are reminded that they must book a slot online on Oxfordshire County Council’s website before visiting their HWRC. Bookings are available up to two weeks in advance or 30 minutes prior, subject to availability. No booking slots will be available for those affected sites on the dates they are closed.

More information can be found on Oxfordshire County Council’s website, including details of alternative sites during the closures if visitors are unable to wait until their local site reopens.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council has again been named the top performing waste disposal authority in the two-tier system in figures published last month. In 2024 - 25, residents recycled, reused or composted 56.6 per cent of their household waste.

The total amount of household waste produced in Oxfordshire was 292,738 tonnes for 2024 - 25, with 165,694 tonnes being reused, recycled and composted.

Oxfordshire’s city and four district councils, which operate the kerbside collections for householders, also achieved good results in their national category.

Out of 197 waste collection authorities in England, South Oxfordshire District Council is second in the table for the percentage of waste recycled (61.3 per cent), the Vale of White Horse is 8th (58.9 per cent), West Oxfordshire is 16th (57 per cent), Cherwell is 37^th (51.5 per cent), and Oxford City Council is 51^st (48.2 per cent).

Along with the county council, the city and district councils make up the Oxfordshire Resources and Waste Partnership (ORWP) which works together to improve recycling and waste management services for residents.

Vicky Beechey, ORWP Manager, said: “The sustained high performance collectively by Oxfordshire councils is notable, particularly against the backdrop of challenging financial times for everyone. To see ORWP partners’ and Oxfordshire residents’ hard work continuing to be reflected in these figures is testament to the commitment of everyone to deliver positive environmental outcomes.

“Our residents deserve congratulations and thanks for all their consistent hard work and commitment in achieving this landmark. However, we are certainly not complacent and one area we would like to improve is reducing food waste. Wasting less food is good for our finances, and the food waste we do recycle is anaerobically digested, making methane to replace fossil gas to heat our homes and cook our food.

“ORWP partners recognise that there is more to do to improve reuse, repair, recycling and composting figures. We can all take positive action through reducing  food waste, keeping items in use for longer and reducing the amount of waste we produce – for the benefit of everyone. Using tools such as the Waste Wizard can really help put the items we have in the right place – whether that’s for reuse, composting or to throw away.”

Visitors to Oxfordshire’s seven household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) are reminded that a booking system is now in operation.

Customers must book a slot online on Oxfordshire County Council’s website before visiting their HWRC. Bookings are available up to two weeks in advance or 30 minutes prior, subject to availability.

Residents without internet access can book slots over the telephone by contacting the council’s customer service centre on 01865 519800 between 8.45am - 5pm, Monday - Thursday, and 8.45am - 4pm on Fridays.

Oxfordshire customers are also reminded to bring proof of address with them when visiting an HWRC – such as a driving licence or recent utility or council tax bill – as visitors from outside the county will be charged £15.

Oxfordshire residents can also dispose of limited amounts of DIY waste for free at the county’s HWRCs if they book online in advance .

For those looking to reduce their waste further, Oxfordshire’s Community Action Group network and Replenish project have lots of opportunities for people to get involved with local schemes and tips on how to reduce waste and improve their local environment.

Residents can also visit Climate Action Oxfordshire for ideas on the practical things they can do to reduce waste and make better climate choices with the time they have available. 

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Free park and ride bus travel was introduced on 29 October to support the temporary congestion charge, which has been implemented as an interim measure while Botley Road remains closed, preventing the start of the traffic filter trial. 

The continued offer of free park and ride bus travel is one way that income from the council’s temporary congestion charge scheme could be spent. Other proposed initiatives that could also be funded by the temporary scheme include:

• Free weekday park and ride parking for NHS and school staff working in Oxford for nine months from 1 June 2026, for work travel.
• Free weekday bus travel for NHS and school staff working in Oxford for nine months from 1 June 2026, for work travel.
• Hospital express park and ride services for 12 months from 1 October 2026.
• Active travel infrastructure, including pedestrian crossings, side road entry treatments, and secure cycle parking.
• Free bus travel for six months per participant in the council’s Connect to Work programme for 2026 - 27.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “The temporary congestion charge is giving residents and visitors to the city faster journeys, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets. 

“I’m very pleased that we’re now able to discuss how we invest further in giving people more choice and convenience when it comes to getting to and around Oxford, including to major hospital sites. 

“It’s my hope that some lasting benefits from the temporary congestion charge will also support the transition to the traffic filters trial after Botley Road reopens.” 

The free park and ride bus travel offer is currently set to continue until 31 May 2026.

Up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket are able to claim free travel to and from park and ride sites in the city. The tickets must be obtained from the bus driver at a park and ride site, and are valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that stops at a park and ride site in Oxford, not just named park and ride services. 

Further details about proposed initiatives will be made available when confirmed by cabinet.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

For the third year running, Oxfordshire County Council is offering groups the chance to apply for grants of up to £25,000 for work to make their communities more resilient to flooding.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “In our role as lead local flood authority we are delighted to be able to fund another round of these priority action grants.

“Last year we received more than 80 applications, and we would welcome a similar response this year. It is fantastic that these groups are so committed to improving the situation where they live.

“When it comes to knowing what is needed to tackle flooding in a particular area, local communities are often the experts. Sadly, due to climate change and the increase in instances of extreme weather, flooding is now affecting more people and more severely than ever.”

The funding will be targeted at flood schemes led by parish, town, district and city councils, flood groups and catchment partnerships and is available for the upcoming financial year (April 2026 - March 2027).

The aim is for communities to deliver small scale work themselves to reduce flooding from surface water run-off, ordinary watercourses and groundwater.

Groups wishing to apply have until 4 May to register their expression of interest by emailing floodmanagement@oxfordshire.gov.uk

The council aims to let applicants know which projects can be supported by 30 May 2026.

Last year, the council awarded grants totalling over half a million pounds to help fund nearly 40 schemes to reduce flooding in Oxfordshire.

The grants funded surface drainage improvements; natural flood management schemes; ditch clearances and ditch construction; culvert inspections; water pumps; track repairs to reduce surface water flooding; the installation of timber dams; and flood sensors.

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) received two grants to carry out natural flood management and other work – one at Carswell Marsh and another at Little Milton, in association with Little Milton Parish Council.

Daniel Akam, BBOWT’s Senior Reserves Officer, said: “Like many watercourses, the Hasley Brook has been altered historically to drain agricultural land more efficiently. The speed that the water now flows off the land has contributed to flooding downstream in Little Milton, particularly during extreme weather events, which are now becoming much more common.

“Here at Wells Farm, much of the brook flows through woodland in a natural way and is allowed to spill over, making the woodland wet. This already helps slow and store the water on the nature reserve and is of great benefit to the local wildlife.

“The funding will allow us to naturalise another section that was historically canalised and deepened. We plan to achieve this by regrading sections of the steep canalised banks, allowing the water to spill over at times of high water; creating natural permeable log dam features; and raising the bed level of the brook by creating gravel riffles, reconnecting the channel with the flood plain.

“We also hope to create a new backwater which will connect to the brook in times of flood, providing even more places for the water to be stored. All of this will help slow down and store water naturally, at the same time improving the habitats found at Wells Farm and the health of the Hasley Brook.”

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Eighty-seven roads will be improved as part of an £8 million Oxfordshire County Council highway maintenance programme beginning this spring.

The council and its principal highway contractor M Group will be visiting 62 towns and villages between April and June to carry out surface dressing work.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “The places with the best roads there are the ones that don’t get potholes in the first place.

“Oxfordshire has some of the busiest roads in the country, with 4.79 billion vehicle miles travelled in 2024. Heavy traffic puts huge strain on road surfaces.

“Reactive pothole repairs are expensive and inefficient. Preventative maintenance, such as surface dressing, is far better value and stops potholes forming in the first place.”

Richard Lovewell, M Group Business Director, said: “Surface dressing is the most cost-effective and efficient way to increase the life of our roads. It prevents water ingress, improves skid resistance and ultimately protects the carriageway from future potholes.

“We’re proud to be supporting the council in delivering this forward-thinking investment in Oxfordshire’s road network. Delivering a programme of this scale demands real teamwork between the council and M Group working alongside our partners Hazell & Jefferies and Wilson & Scott.

“My thanks go out to everyone involved in pulling this complex programme together and to the crews who will be working tirelessly on the ground.”

The council is urging motorists to watch out for notifications of the work taking place and to drive carefully after it has been carried out.

Driving too fast on a recently treated road can result in broken windscreens or chipped paintwork, as the friction from the tyres can dislodge loose chips. There is also an increased risk of skidding while the new chippings ‘bed in’.

For these reasons, an advisory speed limit of 20mph will be put in place. It is important to adhere to these low speeds until all warning signs have been removed.

Surface dressing takes place after existing defects have been patched and involves applying bituminous emulsion onto the road as a binder. This is followed immediately by the application of chippings to dress the emulsion layer.

The method offers many advantages, including:

• Sealing the road surface to keep out water, one of the major causes of deterioration and potholes.
• Reducing the deterioration of the road surface.
• Restoring the necessary level of skid resistance to reduce skid-related traffic collisions.
• Enabling worn out road surfaces to last longer, increasing the time before structural maintenance is required.
• Maximising the cost effectiveness of limited highway maintenance budgets.
• Minimising traffic disruption and congestion as large areas of roads – up to 100,000 square metres – can be treated in a single day.
• The work is highly weather dependent and cannot be completed in wet conditions.

Updated details about the programme, including a map showing where and when the work will be taking place, will be available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

However, the work is highly weather dependent and cannot be completed in wet conditions. Therefore, the earlier in the spring it can be started, the more likely it can be completed with minimal disruptions as it provides extra leeway for days lost to rain.

Last year, the council treated over 1.4 million square metres of carriageway, whether in full-scale resurfacing programmes or preventative treatments, like surface dressing which prolongs the life of the roads treated by up to 10 years.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the government has decided to implement proposals for five unitary councils for the area covering Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock; five unitaries for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton; three unitaries for Norfolk; and three for Suffolk. Decisions for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, and West Sussex are yet to be made.

Oxfordshire was not part of the DPP and the decision for it is expected in July. 

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “One Oxfordshire is the only proposal that fully meets government criteria with the scale, efficiency and resilience to save the most money and withstand future financial shocks; the stability to protect and improve critical services; and the simplicity residents want.

“It will also simplify and streamline planning to provide sustainable and equitable growth – housing, transport and infrastructure – for the whole county so people can move well wherever they live, work and play.

“We have noted that a single county unitary is not the way forward for the councils that proposed one in Norfolk and Suffolk. That makes it all the more important that people respond before our own consultation concludes tomorrow on 26 March.”

There are two other proposals for local government reorganisation both of which include West Berkshire. One is for three unitary councils and another for two.

Cllr Leffman added: “We welcome recent news that the government is planning to create a Greater Oxford Development Corporation. We believe the real opportunity lies in taking an approach that reflects the county’s network of science parks, innovation campuses and high‑growth businesses across our towns and rural areas.

“A unified council, working alongside a strong, properly scoped development corporation, would provide the clarity of leadership, democratic accountability and delivery capacity needed to unlock sustainable growth that benefits all our communities. By aligning strategic planning, infrastructure investment and local decision‑making across the whole county, we can build the homes people need, support sustainable transport, and secure long‑term economic prosperity for Oxfordshire as a whole.”

“One Oxfordshire will bring together all council services across the county with the strength and voice to activate exciting and enduring change. It will provide one front door, meaning easier access to support for residents and businesses.

“This single council will protect not separate critical services like high-performing adult and children's social care avoiding the duplication and disruption that two or three councils would create.

“It will provide the greatest financial resilience and value for money saving £63 million each year and total net savings of £163 million by year five – more than two or three councils can achieve.

“One Oxfordshire will ensure local voices are heard through stronger and simpler local governance bringing decision making closer to communities with clear accountability and a single set of councillors operating at the heart of their areas.

“The other two proposals cannot match the One Oxfordshire proposal. Please do have your say and make Oxfordshire’s voice heard loud and clear.”

Residents can access information on all three proposals for Oxfordshire at oneoxfordshire.org.uk. The statutory consultation closes at 11.59pm on Thursday 26 March. The consultation is open for everyone to have their say.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

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 traffic in the city while Botley Road remains closed, and the start of the council’s traffic filter trial is delayed. 

The published data includes car and bus journey times, and park and ride usage. The data shows that bus journeys on Abingdon Road and Iffley Road in particular are faster than those at the same time last year. Data is presented alongside figures for the same month in the previous year for comparison and is published each month. This is the fourth month of data published for the temporary scheme. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “I’m pleased that so many people are benefitting from better journeys in the city with the congestion charge. It’s not only those choosing to use our offer of free park and ride bus travel who benefit, as the reduced traffic on key routes has allowed bus companies to improve bus services across the city and those travelling in other ways also enjoy less traffic. Entries to park and ride sites have increased year on year, and there is still plenty of capacity.  

“It’s still too early for us to draw firm conclusions and we will continue to watch the impacts of the temporary congestion charge carefully as residents, visitors and businesses adjust to it.” 

Monitoring data is now published for November through to February, with some data sets not yet available. Travel patterns and external factors will continue to change. The data that is being collected will build a picture over time of how the scheme is working and highlight any issues the council may need to address. 

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

About the temporary congestion charge  

A charge of £5 per day is payable to drive a car without a permit through the six congestion charge locations. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can go through the temporary congestion charge locations for free.  

There are permit types available that allow free travel through the congestion charge points. Permit applications covering different circumstances can be made from the county council website, including for residents, traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website.  

Those driving in a car without a permit can pay the congestion charge online by midnight on the day after driving through one of the six charge locations – no account is needed. There is also an option to pay by phone. 

Locations and operating times:

• Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm  
• Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm

The scheme will remain in place until the traffic filters trial is introduced, once Botley Road reopens, expected to be August 2026.

Free park and ride bus travel was introduced on 29 October to support the temporary congestion charge, which has been implemented as an interim measure while Botley Road remains closed, preventing the start of the traffic filter trial. 

The offer of free park and ride bus travel is one way that income from the council’s temporary congestion charge scheme is being spent. Further plans for investment will be considered by the council’s cabinet at a public meeting later in the spring. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management said: “The temporary congestion charge is giving residents and visitors to the city faster journeys, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets. 

“I’m very pleased that we’re able to continue to invest in free park and ride bus travel which helps to further reduce traffic, giving people faster buses and more choice and convenience when it comes to getting to and around the city, including to major hospital sites.” 

Up to two adults and three children with a valid park and ride parking ticket are able to claim free travel to and from park and ride sites in the city. The tickets are valid on any Stagecoach, Oxford Bus Company or Thames Travel bus that stops at a park and ride site in Oxford, not just named park and ride services. 

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council is publishing monthly data to help monitor Oxford’s temporary congestion charge. Footfall and spend figures are not currently being published due to challenges with available data, but this new source of data provides a snapshot in one area of the city.

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 traffic in the city while Botley Road remains closed, and the start of the council’s traffic filter trial is delayed. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It’s reassuring to see that from the limited footfall data we now have, the Queen Street figures are positive, particularly in comparison with other town and city centres which have seen some decline, according to the same data provider. It gives an indication that Oxford city centre remains an attractive and thriving destination for shopping and leisure. 

“This small increase may be a result of many factors, and we cannot attribute it to the temporary congestion charge. It’s still too early to draw any firm conclusions about data trends and the data we’re collecting will help us build a picture over time of how the temporary charge is working. 

“We’re working hard to secure more detailed footfall and consumer spending data for locations across Oxford, but there have been some frustrating challenges sourcing this data.” 

Monitoring data for the scheme is now published for November, December and January, with some data sets not yet available. Footfall and spend figures are not published while anomalies are being investigated and will be added as soon as they are available. Travel patterns and external factors will continue to change. The data that is being collected will build a picture over time of how the scheme is working and highlight any issues the council may need to address. 

Notes 

About footfall and spend data 

The county council undertook to publish monthly monitoring data in relation to the temporary congestion charge. A key part of this data set is monitoring footfall and consumer spending. For this, the council engaged a new external supplier, Huq Industries.  

Huq provides footfall and consumer spend data for over 90 UK local authorities and business improvement districts, as well as over 300 global brands and retailers across three continents. Huq’s current and historic data is available for any location in Oxfordshire, as it does not rely on physical on-street equipment. 

Footfall data for November was provided by Huq and published in December. Through comparisons with other data sources, which only became available in January, a number of anomalies were identified which could not be explained. The data was published in good faith and as soon as the anomalies became apparent the data was removed, so as not to be misleading. Huq has identified the cause of the issue and are working to correct it. The county council’s decision to pause its use of the Huq data for now does not affect the data itself, nor what is or will be available. Huq continues to collect and hold the data regardless of whether the council is currently using it, so there’s no interruption in data collection. As soon as the data is available and validated, it will be published. 

A representative from Huq explained: 

“We identified that a rebalancing of the dataset implemented mid-last year had an unintended impact on very densely populated areas. This resulted in certain locations showing inflated figures compared to expected real-world levels.

“To address this properly, rather than apply a surface-level correction, we have signed a new agreement with an additional data provider. This will effectively double our panel size and increase our raw data points by approximately 3x. The goal is to materially strengthen the underlying data set so the modelling has a larger and more stable base to work from, improving robustness, consistency, and reliability moving forward.

“The engineering team already has access to the new data and is finalising the last validation and modelling checks. We will incorporate this into our core methodology early next week and we expect this update to bring late-2025 footfall levels more closely in line with real-world activity.” 

In the meantime, the council has procured pedestrian data from another supplier (MRI Software). MRI data is used by over 200 UK local authorities and widely used in the retail and estate management sectors.   

Unlike Huq, MRI uses physical on-street equipment to count pedestrians, so before and after data is only available for locations where a counter has been installed for some time. Queen Street in Oxford city centre is the only public location in Oxfordshire with an MRI monitor.  

The MRI data shows that pedestrian numbers in Queen Street increased by 1 percent during the period November 2025 to February 2026, compared to the same period the previous year. Meanwhile the corresponding figure for all UK high streets indicates a decline in footfall of just over 1.5 percent. This data will be published on the council’s website as part of the February update, towards the end of March. 

The council is currently investigating using other sources of data, such as Vivacity Labs and Telraam counters that are already in place in several locations around the city. However, both technologies are very sensitive to lighting conditions, meaning reliable, comparable data may only be available during daylight hours, providing only a partial picture of trends.   

Consumer spend data is currently being verified, including making comparisons with other data sources before being published. 

Residents or businesses with comments or concerns about the congestion charge can email ccharge@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

About the temporary congestion charge  

A charge of £5 per day is payable to drive a car without a permit through the six congestion charge locations. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can go through the temporary congestion charge locations for free.  

There are permit types available that allow free travel through the congestion charge points. Permit applications covering different circumstances can be made from the county council website, including for residents, traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website.  

Those driving in a car without a permit can pay the congestion charge online by midnight on the day after driving through one of the six charge locations – no account is needed. There is also an option to pay by phone. 

Locations and operating times:

·       Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm 

·       Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm

 The scheme will remain in place until the traffic filters trial is introduced, once Botley Road reopens, expected to be August 2026.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council, in partnership with Oxford City Council and its service provider ODS, is investing £150,000 of its bus service improvement plan (BSIP) funding – which was provided by the government – to improve and refresh the station for the benefit of all users.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Gloucester Green coach station dates from 1989 and it has developed a tired appearance over time. It is certainly not an attractive gateway for local, national and international visitors to Oxford.

“To realise its full potential would require substantial investment and a complete redevelopment, and this remains a long-term ambition. However, in the shorter term, we’re delighted that we are able to carry out a series of measures that will improve the environment for everyone that uses it.”

Councillor Anna Railton, Oxford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, said: “Gloucester Green bus station is often the first impression someone has arriving in our wonderful city, so I am very pleased with these plans to refresh and enhance it. I very much welcome this and the long-term plans for improving the space.”

Following a review of the coach station in 2023, several interventions were identified.

Improvements will include new signage, real time passenger information showing arrival and departure times, new noticeboards, anti-pigeon measures, decluttering, a commercial bin store, repainting, a deep clean of all areas, new larger planters in key areas and bespoke and accessible seating.

The partners are working with Oxfordshire based suppliers and contractors on the project.

Oxfordshire County Council and the local bus operators that make up the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership were awarded more than £10 million last July to fund the proposed measures in the BSIP.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet today adopted its latest movement and place plan for the area. It outlines 13 objectives and accompanying actions to create long-term transport strategy aspirations for the area.

They prioritise people walking, wheeling, cycling and using public transport over private car use. 

Bicester is a historic market town, surrounded by villages set in beautiful countryside. It is home to the world-renowned shopping destination Bicester Village and innovation at Bicester Motion.

Currently 58,700 people live in Bicester and its neighbouring villages, but this is expected to rise to 66,100 by 2030. Further growth is expected by 2050, highlighting the need to address challenges such as congestion, air quality, rural accessibility, walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure and pressure on public transport.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “Oxfordshire is embarking upon sustainable and positive change – placing people, communities and places at the heart of this decision making.

“The movement and place plans, including one for Bicester and its surrounding villages, will be key to this. They reflect the needs and aspirations of our communities, help to protect our natural environment and deliver the homes, businesses and leisure facilities that our communities need and enjoy.”

The plan’s objectives include: 

• Creating a comprehensive walking, wheeling and cycling network that is coherent, direct, safe, comfortable and attractive by providing high-quality routes, improving lighting and surface quality, and reducing severance caused by busy roads and rail lines.
• Public transport improvements including better bus frequencies, improved interchanges and long-term rail enhancements, for example exploring the opportunity for a new station in Ardley.
• Supporting economic growth and innovation, harnessing opportunities to provide sustainable mobility and healthy living. 
• Protecting nature and the environment, with a focus on improving public spaces and strengthening community identity. 

The plan’s vision received strong support during a public consultation.

Cllr Roberts added: “This area has received several planning applications which are likely to bring enormous changes so these plans will be regularly updated to reflect this.”

There are 12 proposed movement and place plans for Oxfordshire that the council will be looking deliver over the next year or so. They will act as supporting documents to the council’s wider local transport connectivity plan, which was adopted in 2022. 

In January, cabinet approved a movement and place plan for the Science Vale area, covering Wantage and Didcot, surrounding villages and the employment sites at Culham Campus, Harwell Campus and Milton Park.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

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 fleet electrification has reduced roadside citywide nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations across Oxford by an average of 10 per cent from 2023 to 2024, and up to 24 per cent in areas of high bus traffic such as St Aldates and High Street.

The transition from diesel to electric buses also cut roadside traffic related noise in central Oxford by an average of 5.1 decibels – comparable to the reduction in noise you would experience by moving three times further away from a road.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “We are proud and thrilled that we were able to back our ambitions with political and financial capital, alongside our partners, to deliver a safer, cleaner, greener, better county for residents and visitors. This provisional data shows what a difference these electric buses are making to people’s lives already.”

The analysis by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (Universities of Birmingham, Warwick and Keele), in partnership with the University of Oxford, investigated air and noise pollution changes before, during and after the introduction of battery electric buses in Oxford.

It also explored people’s experiences of introducing and using the new fleet, including key stakeholders, bus passengers, residents and commuters.

Dr Suzanne Bartington, Clinical Associate Professor in Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham, said: “The transition to electric buses has had a measurable and meaningful impact on air and traffic related noise quality in Oxford. Importantly, we found that people noticed these changes – including less diesel fumes and fewer sleep disturbances, suggesting a real benefit for people’s lives.”

The zero emission bus regional area (ZEBRA) funding scheme is a national initiative contributing to transport decarbonisation and improved bus quality and provision. It has supported the deployment of over 4,000 zero emission buses in England since 2021.

In Oxfordshire, the county council contributed £6m and secured £32.8m from the Department for Transport. This was supplemented by £43.7m from the two commercial bus operators to support the introduction of 159 battery electric buses, across 34 routes in Oxford city centre and the surrounding areas, plus the Sightseeing buses.

At full implementation, electric buses account for 69 per cent of daily bus mileage within the city and 49 per cent of daily bus flow.

Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company Managing Director, said: “We’re proud of the significant contribution to reducing emissions and improving air quality in Oxford our fleet is making.

“The whole community is positively benefiting from this ambitious infrastructure project, which demonstrates what can be achieved when key stakeholders have a shared vision and work together.

“We remain committed to building on this progress across the county and have invested in a further 13 electric vehicles which will enter service in spring 2026. These vehicles will help to improve air quality more widely in our county.”

Chris Hanson, Managing Director of Stagecoach West, said: “The introduction of our 55 electric vehicles in Oxford has been truly transformational. These buses are delivering greener, zero emission journeys right across the city’s network, while also offering a noticeably smoother, quieter and more comfortable experience for our customers.

“The response from passengers has been overwhelmingly positive and, just as importantly, this investment marks a vital step towards our pledge to operate a fully zero emission fleet by 2035.”

Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to health in the UK contributing to an estimated 30,000 early deaths each year.

Exposure increases the risk of asthma, stroke, heart disease and lung cancer and is linked to adverse birth outcomes, diabetes, high blood pressure and dementia.

Simon Lightwood, Roads and Buses Minister, said: “We all know that zero emission buses offer smoother, quieter journeys for passengers but as this research shows, they play an important role in delivering cleaner air in our towns and cities too.

“I am delighted to see the effect these electric buses are having across Oxfordshire, made possible by over £32 million in funding from the government. Not only do they get people to work and hospital appointments, they also help the environment, giving greener options for everyone.”

In Oxford city, air pollution has fallen in recent years but while legal limits are widely met across the city, levels still exceed World Health Organisation global air quality guidelines.

Noise pollution has a direct impact on sleep and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression and anxiety.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Customers must book a slot online on Oxfordshire County Council’s website before visiting their HWRC. Bookings are available up to two weeks in advance or 30 minutes prior, subject to availability.

Residents without internet access can book slots over the telephone by contacting the council’s customer service centre on 01865 519800 between 8.45am - 5pm, Monday – Thursday, and 8.45am - 4pm on Fridays.

Oxfordshire customers are also reminded to bring proof of address with them when visiting an HWRC – such as a driving licence or recent utility or council tax bill – as visitors from outside the county will be charged £15.

Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “Between the booking system going live on 14 January and 1 March there have been more than 58,000 visits to Oxfordshire’s HWRCs.

“Around 74 per cent of these visitors booked in advance, so we really need to ensure that the other 26 per cent are aware that they need to book in advance. It only takes two minutes to make a booking online.”

To date, there has been good availability and far less queueing on sites. The most popular slots have been on weekends, particularly between 11am and 2pm.

As well as better traffic management, the booking system can increase recycling rates as staff are able to help visitors separate their recyclable from their non recyclable waste.

Analysis has shown up to 60 per cent of material deposited in the non recyclable containers is, in fact, recyclable. Customers are asked to sort all their recycling, ideally before arriving at an HWRC.

For those attending with unsorted waste, sorting stations are available to help separate out as much recycling as possible. This is better for the environment and helps the council to avoid larger disposal costs.

Residents can use the Waste Wizard search tool, found at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/wastewizard, if they are not sure what they can and can’t recycle. They can also ask site staff at their local HWRC.

While some residents may be concerned that the booking system will cause fly-tipping to increase, the changes implemented are quite commonplace in other local authorities and have been in place at some for quite a while.

Their experiences have shown this does not lead to a rise in fly-tipping and, so far, there has not been an increase observed in Oxfordshire as the vast majority of residents are law abiding and will dispose of their waste responsibly. The council will continue to monitor the situation.

The booking system, which was introduced on 14 January, will also help manage demand across the HWRC network when Redbridge HWRC is closed later this year for around three months for essential safety work.

Redbridge sees the most visitors of all the sites, and it is expected that these customers will go to their nearest alternative. The booking system will help manage the increased demand at the other sites.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

The data from Go Ahead, which owns six local bus companies including Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, shows overall year-on-year passenger numbers are approximately 8 per cent up since the introduction of the congestion charge. A third of this increase is on park and ride services with the remaining two-thirds on non park and ride services, with significant growth on routes serving the city from other areas like Didcot, Abingdon and Wallingford.  

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 traffic in the city while Botley Road remains closed, and the start of the council’s traffic filter trial is delayed. 

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It’s wonderful to see this increase in bus use, which is in large part due to our temporary congestion charge in the city, making it possible for bus operators to improve and extend services. 

“The congestion charge is part of how the council is improving transport choice and connections among our local communities, enabling more people to choose bus for their journeys. With our offer of free park and ride travel, and new and improved bus services around the city, buses are becoming a great choice for more people. The more people use bus services, the more we all benefit; from less traffic, faster journeys and cleaner air.  

“We’re continuing to watch the impacts of the temporary congestion charge carefully as residents, visitors and businesses adjust to it.”  

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: "It's been very encouraging to see the increased numbers of people using buses since the county council's temporary congestion charge came in at the end of October. 

“The reductions in congestion that have been delivered by the congestion charge scheme, and the free park and ride travel promotion that it funds, have helped buses run more quickly in the city, meaning we can offer customers faster journeys and also use buses that were previously stuck in congestion to provide extra services for the community. 

“With these extra services and faster journeys helping to attract more passengers, we can have more confidence moving forwards to invest more in the network to help grow passenger numbers further." 

Monitoring data for the scheme is now published for November, December and January, with some data sets not yet available. Travel patterns and external factors will continue to change. The data that is being collected will build a picture over time of how the scheme is working and highlight any issues the council may need to address. 

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

Bus patronage data is provided by bus operators. 

About the temporary congestion charge  

A charge of £5 per day is payable to drive a car without a permit through the six congestion charge locations. Cars with permits and all other vehicles can go through the temporary congestion charge locations for free.  

There are permit types available that allow free travel through the congestion charge points. Permit applications covering different circumstances can be made from the county council website, including for residents, traders, carers and blue badge holders. To find out about different permits and exemptions, visit the congestion charge website.  

Those driving in a car without a permit can pay the congestion charge online by midnight on the day after driving through one of the six charge locations – no account is needed. There is also an option to pay by phone. 

Locations and operating times:

• Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way - Monday to Saturday - At peak times between 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm
• Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street and Thames Street - Monday to Sunday - 7am to 7pm 

The scheme will remain in place until the traffic filters trial is introduced, once Botley Road reopens, expected to be August 2026.

After launching its 20mph programme in 2022, Oxfordshire County Council has been working with parish and town councils around the county to bring in lower limits in places where parish and town councils request them.

To celebrate the latest milestone, and support these schemes, the council has joined forces with the national 20’s Plenty for Us campaign group to give out free wheelie bin stickers to Oxfordshire residents who want to support their local 20mph scheme.

To apply for stickers, people can visit  the 20’s Plenty webpage. Each household can apply for up to 10 stickers to get the message across that 20mph is plenty in residential areas.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “This is an incredible landmark and I want to thank all the parish and town councils who have been in touch with us, asking to make their residential streets safer and more pleasant places.

“Residents can now can visibly demonstrate their support by putting these stickers on their wheelie bins, to remind drivers that 20mph should be the norm in areas where people live.

“Throughout the delivery of this programme we have been clear about the advantages it brings. You are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph than if you are hit at 30mph.

“Reducing speeds in residential areas is a vital pillar of our commitment to Vision Zero – our ambition to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from road traffic collisions in Oxfordshire by 2050.”

Another ten 20mph schemes are waiting to be implemented, which will take the total to 285.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Utility firms such as water, electricity, gas and broadband providers, plus developers and other companies, often intervene on road networks, leading to delays and congestion.

A lane rental scheme, which Oxfordshire County Council applied for in 2023 and was approved by the government last November, allows a highway authority to charge up to £2,500 per day for work on the busiest roads at peak traffic times.

Roads included in the Oxfordshire scheme, which begins on 5 May, are listed on the council’s website.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “It is in everyone’s interests for utility companies to minimise the impact their work has on our highway network, and a lane rental scheme is one way to achieve this.

“If they know they are going to be charged for the length of time they spend there, it is an incentive to complete the job as swiftly as possible. We look forward to being able to implement it and reap the benefits for everyone in Oxfordshire.”

Charges will apply during peak periods, including weekends and bank holidays, except on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Emergency safety repairs are granted a 48 hour grace period.

The LRS incentivises those working on the highway to prioritise off peak hours and to complete the work as quickly as possible to reduce their costs.

It also encourages greater use of new technology to speed up the work and more collaboration between promoters where costs can be shared.

Any surplus money raised by the council will be used to help manage and improve the highway network.

The council has been operating a permit scheme for road and street works since 2020 and receives about 30,000 requests a year. These requests are coordinated, inspected and enforced to reduce the impact on the travelling public.

However, the permit scheme – which will continue to operate – only allows council costs to be recovered and, unlike LRS, doesn’t allow the council to impose specific charges to discourage those requesting to work on the busiest roads at the busiest times.

The council’s own roadworks will not be exempt from the charges.

Roughly nine per cent of the highway network is liable for charges, based on factors such as traffic volume, pedestrian flow and bus frequency.

Similar schemes already operate in London, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex and government evaluations have shown each to be an effective way to reduce the duration of work and the impact of resulting congestion on the busiest parts of road networks.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Starting later this month, Go Electric Oxfordshire events are happening in every district to allow residents to learn about EVs and explore the wide range of vehicles and charging solutions that are currently available.

The events are open to all and are organised in partnership between Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire’s city and district councils, with support from Let’s Experience Electric.

Councillor Ben Higgins, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Economy and Innovation, said: “These fabulous, free events are part of our overall programme to provide a confidence boost to drivers looking to switch to EV and build on our leadership in this field.

“Alongside hugely expanding Oxfordshire’s public EV charging network, we also want residents to simply feel better informed and more familiar with the types of electric vehicles that more of us will be driving in the near future.”

The series kicks off on Saturday 21 March at the Woolgate Centre in Witney from 10am - 3pm. To register your interest visit the Eventbrite website.

Attendees can test drive models from a range of local dealerships, receive tips from experts and explore options such as car clubs and leasing. There will also be e-bikes to try and lots of practical information on things like renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Councillor Andrew Prosser, West Oxfordshire District Council’s Executive Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery, said: “I’m thrilled to see a large scale event like this coming to Witney and helping give our residents real world experiences with electric vehicles.

“I’d encourage West Oxfordshire residents to visit and discover how it feels to drive an EV and explore the various ways it might be more viable than you think to make the switch.”

Free EV test drives will be available across a wide range of vehicles of all shapes and sizes and to suit all budgets.

Attendees can also find out more about Oxfordshire’s plans to expand the public EV charging network and to explore other charging options such as charger sharing and cable channels.

Further events are planned for Abingdon, Banbury, Oxford and Didcot later this year. More information is available at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/goelectric

Funding for these events comes from a combination of Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) grant funding from the government and contributions from local car dealerships and other stallholders.

Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.