Oxford: Anger as £1.4m from congestion charge to companies

As reported, accounts for the county council have revealed County Hall has spent £1,406,282.80 on the congestion charge to private companies since it was introduced in October.

Businesses include Portsmouth-based Modaxo Traffic Management UK, which have been given over £330,000 for processing penalty charge notices.

Meanwhile, Exeter-based Unity Five Ltd have been given nearly £100,000 for its permit management software.

READ MORE: £1.4m given to private companies for Oxford congestion charge

And the Oxford Bus Company was handed nearly £1m in reimbursements to fund the free park and ride bus travel offer.

Driver Stu Hill said: “This is totally wrong. Private companies should net be benefiting. It should be helping to improve systems for the public.”

Meanwhile resident Richard Smith claimed the congestion charge is “more anti vehicle rules” by the council.

“This will kill shops and shopping centres and have an impact on jobs not just in the shops,” he added.

“Have Oxford put in a park and ride system? Does allow shopping trolleys?”

Resident Marcus Flynn said: “What’s interesting is always how councils pass our taxes into private hands.”

Most drivers argued the money could be well spent on other pressing issues across the county.

Liz Brookes said: “Well let’s have some spent on the roads around Oxford they are in a dreadful state… please can this be done before there is a fatal accident?”

While Denise Driver added: “What about spending this money on repairing the potholes in Oxford, the roads are terrible and dangerous.”

Although some drivers argued the millions in spending is worth it given the costs of operating the congestion charge.

Peter Bowyer said: “Nobody ‘gave’ private companies the money – they tendered and were awarded a contract, delivered a service and were paid for it.”

Oxfordshire County Council is expected to generate a £5.2m surplus from the controversial £5 daily charge to drive through six streets in the city.

Roads include Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement’s Street, Thames Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way.

It comes as 70 per cent of businesses in Oxford say the congestion charge has had no effect, or a positive effect on their business, and 30 per cent report a negative effect.

The results, found in a survey commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council, also found hospitality say it is the hardest hit by the daily £5 fee.

Suburban businesses, particularly those with a shopfront, were significantly less positive than city centre businesses.

Spend data shows year-on-year declines in consumer spending across the city, in line with national trends