At the Oxfordshire County Council meeting on 4 November 2025, a motion to end the Oxford Congestion Charge was rejected — despite clear evidence of the harm it is causing. Directors of Open Roads for Oxford addressed councillors directly, presenting data showing that the Council’s own targets for reducing traffic and pollution have already been met, and warning of the growing economic damage to local businesses. Their speeches called for honesty, accountability, and leadership — but the Council refused to listen.

On 21 October 2025, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) issued its formal response to the pre-action protocol letter we sent them on 7 October 2025.

While the Council’s 17-page letter formally replies to the issues raised, it fails to meaningfully address the core legal and evidential concerns at the heart of our challenge. OCC insists that its decision to approve six temporary congestion charging points was lawful, proportionate, and based on “a fair and effective consultation” - claims which are simply not supported by the facts.

On 7 October 2025, represented by Bates Wells, we issued a Pre-Action Protocol letter to Oxfordshire County Council.

This marks the formal first step in seeking Judicial Review of the Council’s decision on 10 September 2025 to implement six temporary congestion charging points across Oxford.

ORFO believes that the Council’s approach was procedurally flawed and substantively unjustified, and that Oxford deserves policies based on evidence, transparency, and genuine public engagement - not predetermined decisions.

Collaborating with other local interest groups including Reconnecting Oxford to create as robust a consultation response as possible, ORFO submitted a 45-page response to OCC’s consultation on the Congestion Charge scheme, setting out a large number of serious, evidenced concerns.