OLS Address to Cabinet: Temporary Congestion Charge — The Case for Support
One month on from Campaign Director Siobhann Mansel-Pleydell delivering the address to Cabinet (10 September), and with the charge due to begin at the end of October, we’re publishing the speech in full. It captures the case for action. We’ll follow up with a practical “what now” for residents, businesses, and partners.
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Cabinet Address – Oxfordshire Liveable Streets – 10th September 2025
Good morning Cabinet, and thank you for the opportunity to speak.
I’m Siobhann Mansel-Pleydell representing Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, and the 40+ organisations and leadership voices who signed our Open Letter in support of the proposed temporary congestion charge. This was not a petition. The letter represents careful, informed deliberation and engagement, a shared commitment to constructive dialogue, and offers a powerful signal of support for Cabinet’s leadership in this moment.
Congestion undermines liveability: not just how we move, but how we live. It affects our health, wellbeing, safety, time, and social cohesion. These are not fringe concerns. They are central to what could make Oxford and surrounding areas thriving, fair, and functioning places to live and work.
So this charge is about far more than traffic. It is a public health measure, a place-shaping tool, and a climate and equity intervention.
Tackling congestion is not only wholly aligned with the ambitions of the LTCP, it delivers cross-cutting benefits across multiple county policy areas, and is aligned with all nine priorities in OCC’s Strategic Plan.
As part of a broader suite of initiatives, It is a practical and necessary step toward better journeys, cleaner air, safer streets, and a long-term shift toward people-centred urban design that prioritises equity, health and wellbeing in a changing climate.
Our signatories understand this. The Open Letter was signed by public health leaders, climate experts, rural and community groups, business leaders and active travel advocates. It reflects a broad and deep commitment to shared values held by a quiet majority in support of bold measures
And these values are not ours alone.
Oxfordshire’s Citizens’ Assembly, one of the strongest forms of deliberative democracy, offered a rare and representative glimpse of what people across this county support when fully informed:
97% backed reducing congestion and emissions via expanded Park & Ride
88% supported car-free streets and bus prioritisation
A clear majority saw the need for both incentives and disincentives to shift behaviour — including a congestion charge.
Perhaps the greatest threat to progress in this county is the politicisation of policies that sit at the intersection of climate, health, and social equity. That’s why your leadership now matters more than ever.
But even in a noisy landscape - rife with polarisation, misinformation and politicisation - support holds.
We appreciate it might take time to get it right. But systems change is hard. It’s messy. It takes courage and a lot of listening, learning, and adapting.
And Oxfordshire has what it takes.
You’ve already created some of the most ambitious plans in the country. Now is the time to implement them.
As Martin Reeves said back in 2024 at Together100: “If Oxfordshire can’t do it, no one can.”
He was talking about the green transition — but it applies here too.
And so today, we urge you: stay the course.
Deliver the scheme.
Monitor. Learn and adapt.
Oxfordshire is ready.
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In case you missed it: The Oxford Clarion covered the cabinet meeting live on Bluesky. See more here https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lyhwksodsl2l?ref=oxfordclarion.uk
What’s next: Our next blog will cover key changes to the scheme, where to find the most up to date information, and how to engage your communities, and how to monitor changes in congestion.