Latest news with #LukeMarion
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Traffic "emergency" could lead to new congestion charge in Oxford
A temporary congestion charge is being considered for Oxford after a bus company warned that traffic delays were at "emergency levels".Oxfordshire County Council said introducing a £5 daily charge for cars on six roads in the city is one of the options available for managing the authority said action was needed because of delays to a planned trial of traffic filters, which cannot be introduced until Botley Road is route is currently shut because of overrunning works at Oxford Station and the railway bridge, which are now not due to finish until August next year. The charging points for the congestion zone would be in the same places as the planned traffic filters:Hythe Bridge StreetSt Cross RoadSt Clement's StreetThames StreetMarston Ferry RoadHollow WayPaying the £5 charge, which would only apply to cars, would allow drivers to go through the six charge locations until the end of the would be available for carers, traders, blue badge holders, and those commuting to or living in a central area of the city. The change is being considered after warnings about delays from the Oxford Bus Director Luke Marion said: "Oxford simply cannot cope with another year of worsening congestion – rather than continuing to wait for the traffic filters, we need a 'plan B' to address the congestion problem over the next 12 months, and we need it quickly."Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport said action was needed."We urgently need to see improvements to travel around the city; better bus services and less traffic overall, to help people get around," he proposals will be discussed by the council's cabinet on June 17 and, if approved, a six-week public consultation would start later this authority said this was with a view to implementing the congestion charge this autumn, and that as a temporary scheme it could be in place for a maximum of two years. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bus company welcomes plan to tackle city traffic
A bus company has welcomed council plans to develop proposals to tackle Oxford's "devastating" traffic. Oxford Bus Company previously urged Oxfordshire County Council to find a "Plan B", after the ongoing Botley Road closure delayed the authority's planned introduction of traffic filters. The council responded to this by confirming it would be drafting new plans to deal with the city's congestion problem. Luke Marion, the bus company's managing director, said he was "encouraged by the announcement" and "looked forward to engaging" with the council to "improve journeys" for bus users. "A robust bus network is critical in order for the Council to achieve its sustainability targets on the county's roads which we are wholly supportive of," Mr Marion said. "To further enhance the appeal of travelling by bus, we need journeys to be faster and more reliable than is currently possible. "Present levels of congestion are having a devastating impact on our city which we're keen to help resolve through positive discussion." Oxford Bus Company said journey times on the Abingdon Road had increased by an average of 17% since the Botley Road was closed, with services between Blackbird Leys and Oxford city centre slowing by 33% compared with 2013. Following Mr Marion's correspondence, the council confirmed that potential options to improve travel conditions would be discussed by the cabinet. The council had planned to introduce contentious traffic filters on several major roads in autumn 2024, but they were pushed back for another two years due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road. Labour councillor Brad Baines previously argued argued that the county council plans did "not answer questions about affordability of bus services or routes going where people need to go". "These are key barriers which are yet to be addressed or even considered." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion LTNs and cycle lanes cost council almost £4m City traffic filters postponed by Botley Road delay Oxfordshire County Council
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oxford Bus Company welcomes plan to tackle 'devastating' traffic
A bus company has welcomed council plans to develop proposals to tackle Oxford's "devastating" Bus Company previously urged Oxfordshire County Council to find a "Plan B", after the ongoing Botley Road closure delayed the authority's planned introduction of traffic council responded to this by confirming it would be drafting new plans to deal with the city's congestion Marion, the bus company's managing director, said he was "encouraged by the announcement" and "looked forward to engaging" with the council to "improve journeys" for bus users. "A robust bus network is critical in order for the Council to achieve its sustainability targets on the county's roads which we are wholly supportive of," Mr Marion said."To further enhance the appeal of travelling by bus, we need journeys to be faster and more reliable than is currently possible."Present levels of congestion are having a devastating impact on our city which we're keen to help resolve through positive discussion."Oxford Bus Company said journey times on the Abingdon Road had increased by an average of 17% since the Botley Road was closed, with services between Blackbird Leys and Oxford city centre slowing by 33% compared with Mr Marion's correspondence, the council confirmed that potential options to improve travel conditions would be discussed by the council had planned to introduce contentious traffic filters on several major roads in autumn 2024, but they were pushed back for another two years due to the ongoing closure of Botley councillor Brad Baines previously argued argued that the county council plans did "not answer questions about affordability of bus services or routes going where people need to go"."These are key barriers which are yet to be addressed or even considered." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion
A council has been urged to find a "Plan B" for tackling a city's congestion problem after a traffic filters trial was pushed back. The managing director of Oxford Bus Company, Luke Marion, said congestion in Oxford was at "emergency levels". Oxfordshire County Council's Lib Dem administration was set to introduce contentious traffic filters on several major roads in autumn 2024, but they were pushed back for another two years due to the ongoing closure of Botley Road. The council's newly elected cabinet said it is going to draft new plans to deal with the city's congestion problem. The traffic filters would be introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, with motorists without a permit facing a £70 fine for driving through. The plans are part of the county council's drive to create a net-zero travel and transport system by 2040. Last week, Banbury's Labour MP Sean Woodcock wrote to the council asking whether they would take advantage of powers to bring more bus services under their control, if the government's better buses bill was passed. Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said the calls for action were taken "seriously" and that they looked forward "to engaging on proposals soon". "We need faster, more regular, cheaper bus services, and we need them now," he said. "The way to do that is to tackle congestion, which will of course also deliver safer, quieter, cleaner streets, and help key workers and businesses delivering vital services on our roads." Green county and city councillor Emily Kerr said she was "delighted" at the news and called the delays due to the Botley Road closure "exceptionally problematic". "Everyone agrees we need to speed up the buses," she added. "But whilst Labour and the Tory Alliance say they want this, they've opposed the policy suggestions which will deliver it, such as traffic filters." Labour councillor Brad Baines argued that the county council plans "do not answer questions about affordability of bus services or routes going where people need to go". "These are key barriers which are yet to be addressed or even considered." Councillor David Henwood is part of the Oxfordshire Alliance, which consists of Conservative and Independent councillors. "The solution is clear: remove the LTNs to unlock Oxford's radial routes, relieve pressure on the main roads, and finally make space for efficient, reliable bus services across the city," he said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Urgent health responders exempted from city's LTNs LTNs and cycle lanes cost council almost £4m Council refuses calls to open LTNs in emergencies Oxfordshire County Council
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oxfordshire County Council urged for 'Plan B' to tackle congestion
A council has been urged to find a "Plan B" for tackling a city's congestion problem after a traffic filters trial was pushed managing director of Oxford Bus Company, Luke Marion, said congestion in Oxford was at "emergency levels".Oxfordshire County Council's Lib Dem administration was set to introduce contentious traffic filters on several major roads in autumn 2024, but they were pushed back for another two years due to the ongoing closure of Botley council's newly elected cabinet said it is going to draft new plans to deal with the city's congestion problem. 'More regular' services The traffic filters would be introduced on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, with motorists without a permit facing a £70 fine for driving plans are part of the county council's drive to create a net-zero travel and transport system by week, Banbury's Labour MP Sean Woodcock wrote to the council asking whether they would take advantage of powers to bring more bus services under their control, if the government's better buses bill was Gant, cabinet member for transport management, said the calls for action were taken "seriously" and that they looked forward "to engaging on proposals soon"."We need faster, more regular, cheaper bus services, and we need them now," he said."The way to do that is to tackle congestion, which will of course also deliver safer, quieter, cleaner streets, and help key workers and businesses delivering vital services on our roads."Green county and city councillor Emily Kerr said she was "delighted" at the news and called the delays due to the Botley Road closure "exceptionally problematic"."Everyone agrees we need to speed up the buses," she added."But whilst Labour and the Tory Alliance say they want this, they've opposed the policy suggestions which will deliver it, such as traffic filters."Labour councillor Brad Baines argued that the county council plans "do not answer questions about affordability of bus services or routes going where people need to go"."These are key barriers which are yet to be addressed or even considered." Councillor David Henwood is part of the Oxfordshire Alliance, which consists of Conservative and Independent councillors. "The solution is clear: remove the LTNs to unlock Oxford's radial routes, relieve pressure on the main roads, and finally make space for efficient, reliable bus services across the city," he said. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
