🟢 From Gridlock to Green Light: Sign the Open Letter to Cabinet

Founding signatories gathered outside Oxfordshire County Hall.

Today, we at Oxfordshire Liveable Streets stood outside County Hall with a group of founding signatories to officially launch an Open Letter backing Oxfordshire County Council’s proposed temporary congestion charge — and to invite organisations, community groups and businesses across Oxfordshire to join us. 

In the face of vocal opposition and rising misinformation, it was a clear and confident message to Cabinet: Stay the course. Oxford is ready for this.

Signed by groups spanning health, business, active travel, climate and social justice, the letter urges Cabinet to move forward with a practical, necessary measure to ease gridlock, improve public transport, and create cleaner, fairer streets for everyone.

Founding signatories gathered outside Oxfordshire County Hall.

Members of the press joined us and asked if the congestion charge is "anti-car". We emphasised that this measure is not about punishing drivers, but about creating more equitable access to our city’s streets. Congestion harms everyone. It's time to prioritise health, fairness, and the shared public good over gridlock that hurts all modes of transport.

Jake Swinhoe of Velocity Cycle Couriers being interviewed by BBC Oxford.

When asked by Senior Journalist Bethan Nimmo of BBC Oxford, “Do you think it will make a difference” Jake Swinhoe from Velocity Cycle Couriers said “I think it will. I think it’s all a step at a time to reduce traffic… there are obviously many people who will need exemptions but I think this is a really positive step to reduce unnecessary traffic wherever possible.”

Sushila Dahl from Oxford Pedestrians Association being interviewed by BBC Oxford.

“OxPA fully backs the Congestion Charge - it will speed up buses and reduce pollution, danger, and noise. Oxford’s streets simply aren’t build for huge numbers of cars and ever larger vehicles. We are all pedestrians, whether we walk, wheel, cycle, bus or drive and currently it’s unpleasant for everyone,” said Sushila Dahl from Oxford Pedestrians Association.

Siobhann Mansel-Pleydell of Oxfordshire Liveable Streets being interviewed by BBC Oxford.

When asked about rising opposition to the proposed congestion charge, Siobhann Mansel-Pleydell, Campaign Director of Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, said “last year’s Citizens’ Assembly on Transport made it clear: the public supports bold action. This diverse, representative group was asked what’s needed for Oxford’s transport system to support our health, economy and environment by 2050. There was strong backing for a layered approach approach, combining incentives with disincentives to create real change.”

Who’s backing the charge?

The signatories include: CPRE Oxfordshire, Oxford Friends of the Earth, Darcica Logistics, Pedal and Post, Velocity Cycle Couriers, Community First Oxfordshire, as well as leaders such as Professor Lord John Krebs (Crossbench Peer) and Dr. Alison Hill MBE (Public Health Doctor and Cycling Advocate).

Pete Sudbury, Former Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and leading voice in climate adaptation and resilience building said, "responsible politicians know we urgently need solutions to congestion; the rest are quick to complain about congestion, and quicker to oppose any suggested solution. We all know we need a mass shift from private car to public transport. Congestion charging is the best solution yet; it deserves support now, in Oxford, and in the future, across the whole County.”

“Air pollution from traffic contributes to over 300 deaths a year in Oxford,” said Rachel Stancliffe, CEO of The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare. “Reducing traffic should be seen as a positive public health intervention.”

“We all need to take bold measures to reduce our impact and create a cleaner, greener Oxford for everyone,” said Melanie Tattersall, Darcica Logistics Ltd.

This builds on growing momentum: earlier this month, local transport leaders issued their own joint letter of support. “The Future is multi-modal!” declared Robin Tucker from the CoHSAT. Together, these two efforts show a broadening coalition — from engineers to entrepreneurs — all ready to back bold steps forward.

Transport groups gathered to sign joint letter in support of the congestion charge.

Why sign?

There’s a quiet but growing majority who support bold, fair action. This is a way to stand together and help shape the Oxford we want — one that puts wellbeing, access and  health at its heart.

By signing, you help show broad, cross-sector support for decongestion and reinforce the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Transport.

✍🏽 Add your name

This letter will remain open for new signatories throughout the consultation period. If you're part of a business, organisation or community group that shares these values, add your voice to show that Oxford is ready for change. By request, we’ve also now opened up the letter for citizens to sign. 

Let’s keep Oxford moving — together.

👉 Sign the letter here