Crime & Safety
Oxford congestion charge fines include ‘deceased’ drivers
There have been 13 penalty charge notices (PCNs) cancelled due to vehicle owners being dead, as the number of fines issued under the traffic schemes exceeds 250,000.
The figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request do not show the circumstances under which a vehicle or vehicles belonging to “deceased” people had been driven into Oxford’s LTNs or congestion charge zones, but give a variety of reasons why PCNs were voided.
It also reveals the number of fines issued for the duration of the congestion charge, which started on October 29, 2025 (205,691), and LTNs, which began on May 17, 2024 (51,209), up to April 30.
The dataset lists 64 causes for close to 14,000 fines being scrapped by Oxfordshire County Council.
Two PCNs were cancelled as the vehicle owner was in prison, and one as it was a diplomatic vehicle.
Ambulances had 36 fines revoked, the police had 16, two for the fire brigade, four due to the driver being a doctor on call, along with over 1,000 for taxis, and over 4,000 vehicles without a registered keeper.
Disabled drivers, people with medical reasons, untraceable and foreign vehicle owners received cancellations.
More than 5,000 PCNs were voided for a range of permit errors and for motorists who had paid for entry.
Since their introduction, there have been close to 257,000 fines handed out to motorists who did not pay Oxford’s £5 congestion charge fee or entered LTNs.
Over 205,000 of these were for congestion charge, meaning that in the last four-and-a-half months, 175,000 fines have been given.
On January 7, the county council stated it had issued 31,588 fines since it began on October 29 2025.
This comes as estimates for the total surplus cash expected to be raised by the scheme rise sharply, by £2 million compared to initial forecasts.
The council is now set to rake in over £5 million from the charge over 10 months.
The figures also show the locations where drivers have most commonly entered charge zones and been issued a PCN:
- Thames Street – 81,493
- Hythe Bridge Street – 48, 309
- St Clements Street- 31,614
- St Cross Road – 22,001
- Hollow Way – 11,680
- Marston Ferry Road – 10,594
Thames Street, which has the highest number of fines, has also seen the most PCN cancellations, with more than 5,000 – six per cent of the total fines.
The four highest-grossing roads for PCNs issued are also those with the longest hours of charge in action.
The traffic measure is in place from 7am to 7pm Monday to Sunday, for drivers passing Thames Street, Hythe Bridge Street, St Clement’s Street and St Cross Road.
Hollow Way and Marston Ferry Road charge points run from 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
The county council approved introducing the charge last September, and it was introduced on October 29.
It is set to end in August when the Botley Road reopens, and traffic filters are introduced.
The cameras will remain in place, and the traffic filters will operate at the same locations and times.
If you do not pay the daily charge, you will receive a £70 fine which is reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.
If the fine is not paid within 28 days, it increases to £105.
Lisa Hogan, the partner of the former Top Gear host, commented that he did not follow medical advice after an emergency that saw him taken to hospital.
Towards the end of 2024, the 66-year-old revealed that he underwent emergency heart surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after suffering pains.
READ MORE: 17-bedroom manor with ‘world-famous’ room up for £12m sale
It would result in him having a stent fitted, says The Mirror, with the medical episode covered in the upcoming fifth series of hit Amazon Prime show Clarkson’s Farm.
Commenting on it to the national title, Ms Hogan said that her partner did not take the advice to rest and recuperate.
She said: “Jeremy was advised to rest for a couple of weeks, and that lasted about a day and a half.”
In the trailer for the new Clarkson’s Farm series, Mr Clarkson is seen in hospital after which he explains his condition to Kaleb Cooper.
He said: “You’ve got three arteries that feed your heart to keep it pumping. My heart wasn’t getting any blood.”
A woman then tells him: “To be fair, my mother dropped dead of a heart attack at 67.”
“Cheery news,” replied Mr Clarkson.
Initially debuting back in 2021, the 66-year-old’s farming documentary has found global success.
Set at his own Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, the series also covers his Cotswolds pub, The Farmer’s Dog, which opened in Asthall back in 2024.
An official date for the new season was confirmed earlier this month by Prime Video, with the first episodes set to be released on Wednesday, June 3.
Appearing recently on the Heart Radio Breakfast show, Mr Clarkson spoke to his Cotswolds celebrity neighbour Amanda Holden about the new episodes.
READ MORE: Iconic BBC show’s legendary £45m Oxfordshire lakeside mansion up for sale
“It’s the most dramatic of the shows we have done so far, and it gets more and more and more dramatic towards the end,” said the 66-year-old.
“Yeah, I’ll say no more than that because we’re not actually doing any PR for this series at all.”
The new season will follow its predecessors in that it comes with a staggered release, as episodes are set to roll out weekly until June 17.
Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East, has endorsed the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s stake in the Makerfield by-election.
In a statement, the MP said: “Great reception in Makerfield for Andy Burnham.
“Thanks to all the residents who opened their doors to us. Many underlined how Andy keeps speaking up for people like them.”
Following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s devastation loss in councils across the counties, many Labour MP’s are supporting Mr Burnham as the party’s best chance of recovery.
READ MORE: Fears for sports ground as teams told to stop playing immediately
The MP for Makerfield is open after Josh Simons resigned on Monday, May 18 in order for Mr Burnham to take his seat.
The Makerfield by-election will take place on Thursday, June 18.
Ms Dodds resigned in February last year as Sir Keir’s International Development Minister following aid cuts.
In a letter to the Prime Minister at the time she said cuts to international aid to fund an increase in defence spending would “remove food and healthcare from desperate people – deeply harming the UK’s reputation”.
Mr Burnham could be in with a chance of taking the seat in the upcoming by-election, however, Reform only came second by 5,399 votes in the last elections.
The politician has previously run to become the party’s leader after Gordon Brown resigned, losing to Ed Miliband, and in 2015, where he was beaten by Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Burnham was MP for Leigh in Greater Manchester, during his time as an MP he was a member of the Health Select Committee, and a Parliamentary Private Secretary.
He has also served as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Mr Burnham was blocked from running in the recent February Gorton and Denton by-election, which Green candidate Hannah Spencer won.
In February 2022, Oxfordshire was approved funding of up to £8m to deliver 20mph zones, meaning these costs don’t come out of town or parish councils.
As part of Oxfordshire’s commitment to ‘Vision Zero’, communities are able to request the introduction of 20mph areas.
The county council has recently approved the decision to extend the existing 20mph speed limit on Old Road in Forest Hill between Headington and Wheatley near Oxford.
The council has also approved the decision to introduce a 20mph speed limit in Brightwell Baldwin near Wallingford as part of the Vision Zero project.
The county council says the scheme will make the roads safer and will encourage a smoother driving style with less stopping and starting.
It also says reduced acceleration and braking will help to reduce fuel consumption.
But, it seems most motorists disagree with the changes, arguing for the severe impact it could have for some.
One objection from Dave Finch said: “As a motorcycle rider I think this so dangerous.
“In cold weather a motorcycle rider needs a flow of cold air into their helmet to stop the visor steaming.
“At 20mph the motorcycle rider has to open up their visor to see where they are going.”
Another objection from Penny-Anne Payne said: “Back to the Dark Ages. Surprised they don’t bring back the red flag with a person walking in front with it.
“But then if the people who voted for these clowns are happy when it takes so long to get where they are going, why care?
“This money should being spent on things like potholes.”
READ MORE: All of Oxfordshire’s speed limit changes
Graham Gray also criticised the plans and said: “Nobody wants them. They are using more fuel, because vehicles are stuck in second gear and causing vast amounts of pollution, diesel buses break down more and its costly to replace the diesel emission equipment that the council must pay for.”
But some motorists agreed with the limits being implemented and the benefits safer roads could have.
Supporter Adam Brookes said: “It’s rather funny.
“Anyone who totally loses it over a few traffic restrictions is really not fit to be driving anyway.”
And Paul Williams said: “This makes no difference in Banbury. You are in traffic jam or driving around craters.”
Tony Brett, who stood to be a councillor in Oxford in the local elections this month, said: “Well the council was elected in a fair and lawful ballot.
“On that basis it gets to decide what’s going to happen.
“Consultation is not a democratic process.
“It is designed to enable small tweaks, not policy change.”
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoMajor UK firm collapses in administration with nearly 700 jobs at risk
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoMan arrested in connection with rape in Oxfordshire town
-
UK News4 weeks agoWoman murdered sister and took her Rolex watch
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoBanbury woman jailed after lying to police about kidnapped children
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoWaitrose supermarkets across UK shut due to ‘critical error’
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoHow to spend a day in Harpsden among UK’s poshest villages
-
Crime & Safety2 weeks agoStrictly Come Dancing new hosts reportedly Emma Willis
-
UK News4 weeks agoThousands taking part in Belfast City Marathon