A new congestion charge affecting parts of Oxford comes into force today.

The temporary charge means drivers in cars will need to pay £5 a day if they travel through any of the six charging locations.

It means Oxford is the first city outside of London to implement a congestion charge.

Seven other UK cities, including Birmingham, Bath, Bristol and Edinburgh have similar clean air zone charges – which are designed to reduce vehicle emissions rather than the amount of traffic.

Here is all you need to know about the new charge.

When and where do charges apply?

The congestion charge covers six key locations, all of which are within the ring road that circles the city.

It includes:
• Hythe Bridge Street – Monday to Sunday 7am-7pm
• Thames Street – Monday to Sunday 7am-7pm
• St Cross Road – Monday to Sunday 7am-7pm
• St Clements – Monday to Sunday 7am-7pm
• Marston Ferry Road – Monday to Saturday 7am-9am and 3pm-6pm
• Hollow Way – Monday to Saturday 7am-9am and 3pm-6pm

Charges operate all year round, including on bank holidays.

Oxfordshire County Council said the daily £5 fee covers all six areas, and drivers can pass through several locations in a single day.

Those who fail to pay the charge will receive a £70 fine, which is reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

Who does it apply to?

The charge applies to cars only – including electric cars.

All other vehicles, like vans, motorbikes, mopeds, scooters and lorries, can drive through the congestion zones without charge.

Alongside the congestion charge, the council is offering free Park and Ride bus journeys into the city centre for three months – starting on 29 October.

Up to two adults and three children can claim free travel to and from Oxford’s Park and Ride sites with a valid parking ticket.

How to pay

Drivers can pay the charge online, here.

They are required to pay the charge online by midnight on the day after they drive through one of the six locations. If they can’t pay online, they can pay by phone.

How long will the charge be in place?

The charge is expected to remain in place until August 2026, Oxfordshire City Council said.

It said the maximum time the temporary measure will apply is two years.

Read more:
What are proposed changes to London congestion charge?

Are there any exemptions?

Yes, there are three different permits available for Oxfordshire residents. These allow residents a differing number of free day passes, meaning the congestion charge does not apply.

The type of permit residents are able to apply for depends on where they live in the city.

• The central permit grants residents unlimited free day passes and 50 free visitor passes
• The Oxford permit area grants 100 free day passes
• The Oxfordshire permit grants 25 free day passes

Permits are also available to blue badge holders, frequent hospital patients, unpaid carers and community health or care workers.

Why has it been introduced?

The council said the temporary measure is designed to reduce congestion in the city while Botley Road, which leads into the centre from the west, is closed.

The closure is down to the expansion of Oxford station, which has been delayed by 18 months.

Other purposes of the charge, according to the council, include:

• Make bus journeys faster and more reliable
• Allow for new and improved bus routes
• Make walking and cycling safer
• Reduce local air pollution
• Improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

One of the victims of the Manchester synagogue attack died from a single gunshot wound, and the other from multiple stab wounds, an inquest has heard.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed in the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall on 2 October.

Father-of-three Mr Cravitz died from multiple knife wounds inflicted by terrorist Jihad al Shamie.

Mr Daulby, a member of the congregation, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest fired by an armed police officer scrambled to the scene, Manchester Coroner’s Court was told during a hearing as the inquests into the deaths of both men were opened and adjourned.

Mr Daulby, described as a “quiet hero”, had leaped from his seat to block the doors of the synagogue as it came under attack.

Police shot al Shamie dead seven minutes after the first emergency call as they feared he was wearing an explosive device – later identified as a fake.

The 35-year-old targeted the place of worship on Yom Kippur – the holy day of the year for Jews – driving his car at those gathering, before attacking others with a knife and trying to storm inside.

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Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes of Greater Manchester Police told the hearing: “The offender exited the vehicle armed with a knife and immediately made stabbing motions to Mr Cravitz’s upper torso, head and neck area.”

Judge Alexia Durran, the chief coroner of England and Wales, presiding over the hearing, said her provisional findings were that Mr Cravitz died of stab wounds and Mr Daulby died of a gunshot wound.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct found no misconduct in the police response.

The hearing was adjourned for a pre-inquest review in February next year.

Bomb hoax

The inquest’s initial findings came on the day a man who made a “cruel and calculated” bomb hoax call to a synagogue in Leeds – just four days after the Manchester attack – was jailed for 10 months.

Leeds Crown Court was told on Wednesday that Markel Ible, 32, “intended to sow panic and fear” when he called Sinai Synagogue in Roundhay on 6 October, claiming to have left a bomb there that was due to go off the following day.

A man who made a bomb hoax call to a synagogue days after the Manchester synagogue attack has been jailed for 10 months.

Markel Ible, 32, was sentenced on Wednesday over his “disturbing” offence, which saw him call Sinai Synagogue in Roundhay, Leeds, on 6 October, claiming to have left a bomb there that was due to go off the following day.

It came just days after the deadly 2 October attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, in Crumpsall, Manchester.

During the Manchester attack, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, father-of-three Melvin Cravitz, 66, was killed, along with Adrian Daulby.

Father-of-three Mr Cravitz died from multiple knife wounds inflicted by terrorist Jihad al Shamie.

Mr Daulby, a member of the congregation, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest fired by an armed police officer who scrambled to the scene.

‘Sow panic and fear’

Ible, from Leeds, was sentenced at the city’s crown court after pleading guilty on 8 October to making a bomb hoax call.

The call was made from an unknown number.

Ann Graham, senior crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “Markel Ible was acutely aware of the consequences of his actions, which were intended to sow panic and fear.

“The timing of his offence in the wake of the devastating attack in Manchester just days before makes it all the more disturbing.

“Working closely with the police, we were able to charge Ible and secure a guilty plea within a matter of days.”

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‘People shouldn’t be scared to go to synagogue’
Timeline of how Manchester synagogue attack unfolded

‘Cruel and calculated’

Dave Rich, director of policy for Jewish charity Community Security Trust (CST), said: “CST welcomes the Crown Prosecution Service treating this appalling incident with the seriousness it deserves.

“Ible’s hoax call was not just reckless, it was cruel and calculated, coming just days after the fatal terror attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.

“The hoax call was designed to spread panic and distress at a time when the community was already feeling vulnerable.”