Members of the Oxford Business Action Group (OBAG) have described displaced traffic, confusion, fear, and anger as the new transport policy begins, with concern not only for small independent businesses, but also suggestions that this could mark an end for the Westgate shopping centre.
The experimental roads scheme sees the same number plate recognition cameras used for the congestion charge to restrict access to roads in Oxford at set times for car drivers without permits, using fines.
The traffic filters are on Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, Thames Street and St Clement’s every day from 7am to 7pm, as well as Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way Monday to Saturday from 7am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm.
Traffic filter sign, St Clements (Image: Isabella Harris/LDRS)
Fraser Jones runs Barefoot Bakery, which has four sites across Oxford and Kidlington.
He said: “The council seems to have forgotten that Oxford isn’t a traffic experiment. It’s a city where people live, work and run businesses.
“These traffic filters might look good on a policy document, but on the ground they are creating longer journeys, increased delivery costs, more fuel being burned and making it harder for customers and staff to get into the city.
“For small businesses already dealing with rising costs, every unnecessary mile and every minute is money lost.
“What really concerns me is that the people making these decisions don’t appear to be feeling the consequences themselves.
“They are shifting the cost and inconvenience onto others and expecting us to simply accept it.
“We absolutely should be looking for ways to reduce congestion, but you cannot keep making life harder for small business owners, who are the people who actually make Oxford work – without properly measuring the economic damage.
“Oxford is becoming a city that is increasingly difficult to access, more expensive to do business and hostile to the small independent businesses that give it its character.”
Oxford business owners at County Hall (Image: Isabella Harris/NQ)
Restaurateur and OBAG chair Bernadette Evans added: “Hundreds of Oxford’s high street businesses have reported to the council that the congestion charge has damaged trade.
“Indeed, the council’s own data confirms this: 58 per cent of shop front businesses reported a decrease in customer numbers since the checkpoints were installed and the council’s monitoring shows spending is down in shopping neighbourhoods throughout the city.
“High street businesses are in crisis, so we are staggered that the council has gone ahead and made trading conditions more challenging by putting in the traffic filters – thereby making it even harder and potentially more expensive to get to our shops.
“Businesses desperately need customers from all over Oxfordshire to be able to travel to them in whichever way they choose – and that includes by car.
“Convenience is key for customers. The pre-Christmas trading period is a critical window for retail and hospitality businesses and often creates a substantial percentage of annual takings.
“We are appalled that the council chose this time to press ahead with further restrictions.”
(Image: Oxford Wine Company)
Ted Sandbach, the founder and owner of Oxford Wine Company, said: “The introduction of traffic filters and the risk of incurring a £70 fine is scaring many people away, causing them to avoid Oxford.
“Many prospective customers still seem unsure as to the location of the filters.
“Outsiders are even more confused as the signage implies Oxford is a no go area even though it’s possible to travel down Woodstock and Banbury Roads.
“Botley still feels isolated from the rest of the city and businesses, which were badly hit by the farce of the Botley Road bridge closure, are now little better off.”
To access the Westgate car park, without driving through a filter, car drivers must take the Botley Road, a road which, before its closure, was a heavily congested route into town.
Since its reopening and the filters’ introduction, taxi drivers have described displaced traffic on the route as severe.
Oxford cabbie Zafer Hussein (Image: Matt Simpson)
Zafer Hussein said the council “need to open Abingdon Road”, saying it now takes him roughly half an hour to get to Oxford station either direction he comes from in his black cab.
“Traffic filters are the biggest scam,” he said. “They’re creating more pollution because people are sitting still with their engines running for 40 minutes.
One Uber driver said that over the weekend it took him 45 minutes to drive from the Westgate to Oxford station, a journey that can be walked in less than 10 minutes.
Stagecoach said over the weekend that because Frideswide Square was so badly congested, one of its services had to be suspended both days at Speedwell Street “until the traffic had cleared”.
Electrician Adrian Arbib said: “They’ve massively screwed up with the amount of new congestion the traffic filters have caused.
“Botley Road may as well be shut. It was easier to access the trade counters there when the bridge was closed. I can see that ultimately the Westgate has to close.”
A spokesperson for the Westgate shopping centre said: “We recognise the importance of enhancing city connectivity and reducing traffic.
“However, like many others, we believe that the scheme has the potential to negatively impact Oxford city centre, local businesses, and economic growth unless there is significant investment in public transport.
“We are keen to continue to work closely with Oxfordshire County Council to monitor and review the impact of traffic filters to minimise disruption to guests and access to Westgate Oxford as well as the wider city centre.”
(Image: Sonny Flanagan)
They encourage customers to use park and ride options, with transport information on its website.
The spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of challenges caused by the introduction of the traffic filters to the city and would always advise guests to check the latest information on our website and to follow traffic signage on their route. However, the public highway design and the implementation of the traffic filters are controlled by Oxfordshire County Council.”
They were clear that “the centre’s momentum remains high as we look forward to the end of 2026 and into 2027”.
The spokesperson added: “In recent months we have welcomed notable brands such as LEGO, David Clulow, Yankee Candle, and been chosen as one of the first locations to see the return of Russell & Bromley, showing continued confidence in Westgate Oxford.
“This trend continues in the coming months as we’re set to see fashion brand Bershka and bakery Gail’s open their doors.”
County transport boss Gareth Epps said: “The only confusion is coming from misleading reporting and scaremongering.”
Google Maps continues to direct cars into traffic-filtered routes, listing them as accessible but requiring a toll.
(Image: Isabella Harris/LDRS)
Mr Epps added: “The reality is that Oxford continues to be busy and thriving against a challenging nationwide economic backdrop.
“I remind residents to register for their permits on the traffic filters website if they’ve not already done so.
“There is a wide range of permit types, and of course traffic filters do not apply to vans or lorries so most deliveries should be unaffected or improved by the scheme. All Oxfordshire residents who register get at least 25 free permits a year.
“Our £3 combined park & ride ticket covers return bus travel for five people and 16 hours of parking at Oxford’s park & ride sites, further supporting residents and the local economy.”
He noted that the trial is in its “early days,” saying its impacts are being monitored “carefully”, while calling for submissions to the council’s six-month consultation on the policy.
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