Congestion charge judicial review turned down
BBCA judicial review against a city's congestion charge has been turned down by the High Court.
Open Roads for Oxford has been campaigning against the scheme introduced in Oxford by Oxfordshire County Council in November, in which drivers going through one of six points in the city centre have to pay a £5 fee.
But campaigners said the judge had not ruled the scheme lawful, and was "just not persuaded on the written material alone that the case should proceed". The group still has the right to request a hearing in person.
The BBC has asked the council for comment.
The charging points for the congestion zone are on Hythe Bridge Street, St Cross Road, St Clement's Street, Thames Street, Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way.
The scheme applies to car drivers only and there are a number of permits available, including for carers, blue badge holders, traders, and residents.
In a statement Open Roads for Oxford said: "The judge has refused permission for the case to proceed at the paper permission stage.
"This is a stage where an initial decision is made without any kind of hearing, based on an initial reading of the papers alone.
"This is not a final determination of the case."
It added: "This is a normal and anticipated step in many judicial review cases - particularly those involving complex evidence, as this one does.
"Many judicial review cases that do not succeed on paper do succeed after oral reconsideration.
"The court has set out clear directions for next steps. That would not happen if the case were over and the claim had been thrown out."
The group said it was now preparing for an oral permission hearing but that further legal work was required first.
Fines issued
More than 31,000 fines have been given to motorists who have not paid the charge, figures from the Local Democracy Reporting Service have revealed.
The council has collected £22,085 in payments so far, as not all the fines issued have yet been paid.
It has also raised £728,895 so far from those who have paid the daily charge.
The authority previously said bus operators were reporting 179,000 more journeys on park and ride services in the first two months of the free bus travel offer introduced alongside the congestion charge.
Additional reporting by Local Democracy Reporter Esme Kenney.
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