At a meeting of the council’s cabinet yesterday, members of the Oxford Business Action Group (OBAG) asked councillors for transparency, consultation, and acknowledgement ahead of the introduction of traffic filters in August.

Cabinet meeting, June 16 (Image: Isabella Harris/NQ)

This follows years of calls for accountability and the publishing of survey results and “consumer spend data” this week, which the council said “reveals how business conditions and performance have changed since the temporary congestion charge was introduced”.

Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “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.”

Congestion charge sign (Image: Isabella Harris/NQ)

The data also showed 58 per cent of shopfront businesses have fewer customers since the congestion charge came into force eight months ago, and spend in Oxford’s shopping neighbourhoods has gone down more than in comparable cities.

Restauranteur and OBAG spokesperson, Bernadette Evans, said: “This isn’t happening to just a handful of us but to hundreds of brilliant hard-working shopfront business owners who’ve had the rug pulled from under them.”

The information was collected after businesses lobbied the county council to provide data on how the congestion charge was impacting trade, particularly footfall.

She stated: “We’ve never been asked if we’ve been impacted by the LTNs, the removal of parking or the congestion charge, and we know it’s because you know you won’t like what you hear.”

The charge is temporary and will be replaced by traffic filters after the reopening of the Botley Road.

Fraser Lloyd Jones, who is a part of Oxford Business Action Group and runs Barefoot Bakery, said: “Operating four sites in Oxford City Centre, not once have I been contacted in person, by email, phone or letter to ask my opinion on the consultation phase or the effect it has had on our business since implementation.”

He has a fifth site in Kidlington, where there is free parking and no limits on vehicle movement, which has been growing month on month.

This is not the case for one of his bakeries in Cowley, which may have to close “as footfall in the St Clements area has all but disappeared” amid restrictions, on top of increased business rates.

He described “unprecedented disruption” with works including the long-running Botley Road closure, saying businesses are just trying to “survive”.

Fraser said: “Where is the robust, independently verified evidence that demonstrates these restrictions have delivered a net economic benefit for Oxford?”

Previously, the council has been forced to apologise after congestion charge data collated by an external supplier was found to be faulty.

Geoff Sutton of OBAG and Reconnecting Oxford has analysed walking data and said footfall had reduced on St Clements, having a “severe impact” in “quick waves” with a range of restrictions “removing passing trade”.

He believes predictions for increased active travel with the scheme were “wrong” and people have been catching buses instead, bypassing local businesses.

Bernadette has attended around 20 council meetings speaking for businesses and calling for change, conversation and accountability on the congestion charge, but does not feel heard.

The group “welcomed” new transport boss Mr Epps, agreeing to speak with him after the meeting, but fear there will not be policy change as plans are already approved, with “tweaking around the edges and fiddling while Rome burns”.

Haiilo has formed a strategic partnership with Work Networks, a UK consultancy focused on workplace adoption.

Under the agreement, Work Networks will help organisations implement and roll out Haiilo’s employee experience platform. Its work will include support for community-building, leadership engagement and communication strategies designed to make the platform part of employees’ daily routines.

The move comes as many employers continue to invest in workplace technology while facing weak adoption and engagement across their workforces. Staff are often asked to work across fragmented systems, disconnected communication channels and a growing number of digital tools, leaving employees to manage information overload and competing demands on their attention.

The partnership is part of Haiilo’s wider global partner network. The company operates from offices in the US, UK, Germany and Finland.

Adoption focus

For Haiilo, the tie-up adds a consulting partner with expertise in change management and internal communication at a time when software vendors are under pressure to show that workplace platforms are being used after purchase. The platform is designed to bring communication, knowledge and tools into one place for employees, including frontline and distributed teams.

Work Networks will support organisations through implementation and adoption, rather than only at the point of software deployment. This places the emphasis on workplace habits, leadership behaviour and communication planning, which often determine whether internal platforms gain traction with staff.

Andrew Avanessian, Chief Executive Officer, Haiilo, said: “Employees are often left navigating too many tools, too many systems and too much noise. Attention has become one of the most valuable resources inside any organisation, yet too many workplace experiences are designed in ways that constantly fragment it.

“Haiilo helps organisations create a more connected experience where communication, knowledge and tools work together seamlessly. Partners like Work Networks play a critical role in making that vision a reality, ensuring lasting adoption and meaningful change.”

Consulting role

The partnership also reflects demand from employers for more support with digital workplace change programmes. In many organisations, new systems are introduced into already crowded technology environments, making it harder for staff to know where to find information or which tools should take priority.

This challenge is often more pronounced in businesses with frontline workers or dispersed teams, where communication can be inconsistent and access to corporate systems may vary. By combining software with rollout planning and leadership engagement, companies are trying to reduce the risk that new platforms become underused.

Nick Crawford, Chief Executive Officer, Work Networks, said: “Haiilo’s platform gives organisations a powerful foundation, but technology alone often isn’t enough – organisations also need the right strategy, leadership engagement and cultural change to ensure platforms are truly adopted.

“Our partnership combines Haiilo’s platform with a people-first approach to rollout and adoption, helping organisations create digital workplaces where communication flows naturally and employees feel part of a connected community.”

The controversial, ultra-nationalist figure, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is expected to speak at the Oxford Union debating society in St Michael’s Street today (Wednesday, June 17).

He will debate a motion on whether the West is ‘right to be suspicious of Islam’, with actor Laurence Fox and politician Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg also due to speak

Tommy Robinson, who has multiple convictions for offences including assault, using a fake passport, mortgage fraud and contempt of court, will debate (Image: PA Media)

Fears among local hospitality businesses, including pubs, restaurants, and coffee shops, have risen as a large demonstration has been planned ahead of the speaker’s arrival.

Multiple reports say as many as five roads are set to be closed from 4pm in preparation, including: St Michael’s Street, Cornmarket Street, Queen Street, Market Street, and Ship Street.

Oxfordshire County Council only confirmed St Michael’s Street would be shut due to the event.

But businesses told the Oxford Mail that county council officials had informed them their streets would be impacted. University of Oxford also posted on social media that Thames Valley Police had told them of the five road closures.

Oxford Union in St Michael’s Street (Image: Roger Askew)

Businesses, particularly pubs who will be closing are concerned about staff and public health and safety and a loss of revenue, on what should be the busiest time for them due to the World Cup.

The Jolly Farmers Pub in Paradise Street said: “Businesses are going to suffer. Communities are going to suffer. Our reputation as a city is going to suffer.”

A pub spokesman confirmed The Jolly Farmers will be closed today for the visit.

The Three Goats Head Pub in St Michael’s Street, next door to the union, is closing from 4pm. It will therefore have to send staff home and will lose business.

Manager Jaz Rai said: “I believe in free speech, but I’m not sure why the decision was made for the first match, they should have thought about it bit more.”

Society Coffee, opposite The Oxford Union society, which usually closes at 5.30pm, will close at 4pm.

It is alleged that The Plough Inn in St Michael’s Street will be closed and boarded up (Image: Newsquest)

The popular Plough Inn in Cornmarket Street, is believed to be closing and boarding up, according to local pub managers.

Multiple closures are planned for businesses in Ship Street, opposite St Michael’s Street (Image: Newsquest)

In Ship Street, two of the three businesses are remaining open. This includes Crosstown, award-winning doughnut sellers, and No.1 Ship Street, award-winning independent restaurant.

Maddie Holloway, a barista at Crosstown in Ship Street, who will be working throughout the planned demonstration (Image: Newsquest)

Maddie Holloway, barista at Crosstown, will be working during the protest. She said: “There’s been many protests on St Michael’s Street before but they haven’t come here but we would close if there was a danger.”

Manager Jose Toro of New Ground Coffee in Ship Street is closing from 4pm. He said Oxfordshire County Council came to the business to warn them to not have property, such as tables and chairs, outside.

He said: “It’s out of our control but from a business perspective you can’t just shut down the city without asking anyone.”

The White Rabbit in Friars Entry is closing from 4pm to protect customer and staff safety, despite major business losses (Image: Newsquest)

White Rabbit in Friars Entry is closing from 4pm. General manager Edward Whinney, has prioritised staff and public safety, despite a major financial loss.

He said the closure was important as pub closures across the city could push football fanatics and protestors into nearby streets.

He said: “I was really shocked that at a time where there is so much division and anger, the Oxford Union society, which is supposed to hold constructive debates, is choosing speakers where any proper agreement is going to be lost – It is really irresponsible and I think it’s about making a statement.”

He has had to cancel 70 table bookings, losing 20 per cent of business.

He said: “I will fiercely defend free speech, but it’s staggering that businesses who need the help the most are going to be affected the hardest.

“Our first priority is making sure people are safe and happy, so we didn’t want to risk any consequences on our staff and customers.”

The Grapes in George Street is staying open for the first England World Cup game.

Manager Phoenix Herald called the timing of Tommy Robinson’s visit “ironic” but said the historic beer house is “on alert but not letting it dictate” them.

It will have extra security in the form of bouncers with town radio connections and a ‘just in case’ action plan.

Anneliese Dodds has called the behaviour of Oxford Union’s leadership (Image: Constituency office of Anneliese Dodds)

Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East, has called the behaviour of Oxford Union’s leadership “damaging” to the city.

She said: “The Oxford Union’s decision to host Stephen Yaxley-Lennon has already been rightly criticised for ignoring the views of Oxford residents concerned about its impact on community relations.

“Now it appears local businesses are also worried that they could be targeted by supporters of Yaxley-Lennon and the division he promotes.

“When will the Oxford Union’s leadership realise their behaviour is damaging our city?”