Oxford residents ‘not benefiting from free park and ride’

Anna Railton has urged Oxfordshire County Council to put the income generated from fines and the £5 daily fee to be put into discounted bus tickets for city residents.

The Labour city council cabinet member for net zero argued it “isn’t fair” those coming into the city get free travel through the park and ride, when those living in the ring road have no need to use a park and ride.

It comes as Oxfordshire County Council renewed its free bus ride offering to those who park their cars in the park and rides until the end of May.

Anna Railton (Image: Contributed)

Ms Railton said: “Oxford residents aren’t benefiting from this. Five months in we’re still waiting for the discounts for people who live in Oxford.

“The 50 per cent unspent revenue from the congestion charge needs to be spent on providing bus discounts for Oxford residents.

“It is not fair that an Oxford congestion charge means that people from outside the city travel around by bus for free but if you live here you can’t.”

In January alone, Oxfordshire County Council raised £1,044,640, with £757,435 of this figure coming from the 25,087 fines issued and the rest coming from £5 payments.

Between the start of the scheme on October 29 and the end of January, the most up to date data available, the council raised £1,715,667 from the scheme.

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport management, said that “of course” an increased park and ride uptake benefits everyone including city residents.

He said it makes streets “safer and less congested” and has delivered “huge benefits” to Abingdon Road in Ms Railton’s ward.

Mr Gant accused Labour of “disappearing inside their own contradictions yet again”, while saying they “oppose” Lib Dem policies that have “delivered cleaner air, reductions in casualties, better cycling and walking, safer streets and vastly improved public transport”.

He added: “And, of course, councillor Railton’s remarks make it very clear that they don’t care about benefits for people who live outside Oxford but contribute massively to its vitality and economy. We do.

“The temporary congestion charge, together with the free park and ride offer funded by the charge, is benefiting residents and visitors to the city alike, with faster journeys, improved bus services, cleaner air, reduced traffic and safer streets.

“Our focus is on reducing car use in the city, and promoting park and ride is an excellent way to do that.

“The city council has also been supportive of park and ride use by building three park and ride sites with over 3,500 spaces, and it jointly funded the previous discounted park and ride combined ticket offer.

“Further plans how income from the temporary congestion charge could be spent will be considered by the council’s cabinet at a public meeting later in the spring.

“However, the congestion charge is not generating anywhere near enough income to offer significant universal bus fare reductions in Oxford.”

The Oxford Bus Company has reported an eight per cent increase in bus passengers since the congestion charge started in October.

Luke Marion (Image: Fortitude Communications)

Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, welcomed the free park and ride extension, saying the reduced congestion is speeding up bus times.

“This has meant more services on the 5A, 100 and 700, the introduction of new service 20, faster journeys in south Oxfordshire and additional links for Rose Hill, Littlemore and the Iffley Road,” he said.

“Free travel on park and ride services is working and we would like to see it confirmed for the duration of the temporary congestion charge to provide clarity for everyone, particularly for city centre business ahead of the key summer season.”