Oxfordshire County Council’s traffic filter trial has commenced as of Monday this week.
The trial is serving as a replacement for the temporary congestion charge, with drivers not being able to pay the £5 fee to pass through the traffic filters anymore.
However, cars with permits and other vehicles will be able to travel through the filters.
Filters will be stationed at the same six locations, with number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras being used to uphold restrictions.
If a car drives through the filters without a valid permit, a fine of £70 will be issued. But in the first six months of the trial, an initial warning notice will be sent instead of a penalty.
Furthermore, Botley Road has been reopened, meaning everywhere in Oxford will be accessible by car without drivers needing to go through a traffic filter.
Cllr Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: ‘The experience of the temporary congestion charge has shown encouraging signs that people are changing how they travel.
‘We have seen strong growth in park and ride use and significant increases in bus patronage. The traffic filter trial is the next step in helping us tackle congestion that has blighted the city for decades.’
He added that a public consultation has been launched to invite feedback on the scheme from residents, organisations and businesses.
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