Oxford City Council Reviews 63

Visited Oxford about 2 months ago and so disappointed from last time I visited about 30 years ago. Basically took ages to pay for the congestion charge ( why the need for one : it's not London) with help from my son which is very computer literate . Then the exorbitant car park charges : went on a Sunday! Noticed practically everybody was under 30 : speaking to a few of my age( 73 ) many elderly people are put off because of the hassle! So basically the age demographic has been changed because of this stupid council! Contacted them immediately afterwards regarding these points : they confirmed they had received my post to them but when I chased them said they hadn't received it and asked me to repeat it! Shambolic! After 2 months still no response which rather shows they are not fit for purpose on a contact level as well ! Doubt I will be going back and suspect I am not the only one to feel this. Shame as it used to be a lovely place to visit!

Worst people they always make it harder useless people

Congestion Charge during Christmas Period.
On 27th December we travelled from Swindon to Oxford to see Musical at New Theatre Oxford.
We had just became Foster carers for RSPCA and befor show picked up donation for RSPCA then parked car as normal at Redhill Parking. Had some lunch and saw Miss Saigon in Theatre which we attend regularly. The following week we recd a penalty notice from Oxford Council for Congestion charge that we knew nothing about? I phoned and wrote disputing a charge we know nothing about, I am 79 & my wife was 75 on Saturday & live in Swindon. I was told fill in for to dispute charge which we did and followed up with other calls & e mails to P.Nunes..
Then on Saturday during my wifes Birthday Celebrations we recd 1st communication from Mr P. Nunes over 65 days after incident. At 79 we were unaware of any Congestion charge in Oxford as we live in Swindon. Last year we went to a show in London and they suspend Congestion charge between Christmas & New Year very fair during Christmas. Please be fair Oxford Council .

An abysmal council with one rule for them and another rule for their constituents. They have a talent for hypocrisy and wasting money. They ask for opinions and then ignore them. They are hell bent on making Oxford a ghost town by banning cars and hiking up bus fares whilst reducing bus routes. I don’t know who elects them but they should be as ashamed of their track record as the council.

What is the point of consultations if they constantly ignore what the people want. It is about time the control was given back to the people

Evil self serving jobsworths. We pay taxes to employ idiot with no brains.

A big thank you to Brian, an OCC refuse collector (OBS) who went straight to the meadow at the foot of Burdell Avenue, after I asked if he could, to collect several bags and a cupboard door that some irresponsible person had dumped there in the middle of the night and which had been torn apart by foxes, and debris blown by the wind all over the place. It was horrible, searching for evidence of an address, I received a couple of flea bites, so I am hugely grateful for his speedy response. Thankyou so much, Brian.

I recently contacted the council about my boiler, and the response I received was very unprofessional. The council worker I spoke to repeatedly raised her voice, interrupted me, and disclosed that she is a council tenant herself—something entirely irrelevant and inappropriate. She used her personal situation to dismiss my concerns about discrimination, telling me there is no discrimination within their establishment and that she feels lucky as a council tenant.

When I raised a complaint about this behavior, Mark, my housing officer, responded in a dismissive and biased manner, defending his colleague instead of addressing the unprofessional conduct. His handling of the complaint felt slimy and evasive, relying on technicalities rather than the clear reality of what happened.

I am disappointed by this experience and hope the council takes these matters seriously in the future.

Just sent me a fine for a bus lane but evidence for a bus gate which is different. Don’t have the time to argue which they rely on. Emailed about the ZEZ charge and congestion, got a load of delayed waffle. Don’t recommend and put me off returning.

Incompetent and uncaring. Their communication about roadworks and changes to important travel routes has been horrendously poor.

The most incompetent and uncaring organisation I have ever had dealings with. A complete shambles, no urgency, an absolute disgrace.

I wrote to the Council ZEZ parking team twice explaining that we had been inadvertently drawn into the controlled zone as a result of undeclared road closures associated with university matriculation ceremonies and other foreign vehicles blocking our route out. No response received, no empathy, no interest other than wanting to collect the revenue irrespective. An utterly woeful service.

The most citizen hating institution there is.

Creates consultations only to ignore the results and do whatever they whant with 0 interest or respect for the citizens they are supposed to serve,

Had google reviews so negative they remove their listing from google.

Completed the sale of my property in Oxford on 9/6/25. Have tried to inform the council every day on line and today is 19/6/25. Unable to do so due to system failure. No other means to notify them. Managed to speak to a council employee on the telephone yesterday but she was unable to help.

The worst council in England unhelpful these council members need to get into the 21st century block every thing

All the public noise but a poor place to work.
Staff steal from colleagues openly without any regard or consequence. Yet they have access to public funds through credit cards with little supervision.
There is no audit trail of equipment or the use of data.
Jobs are offered on nepotism rather than ability.
Clear divide between staff backgrounds. Temps are treated lowly with zero duty of care, or support unless you are part of the ‘club’.
Going into work was depressing.

Can't do a minus 10 stars which is what they deserve.
The county is turning into a woke police state. It is not just one thing it is everything they do or don't do.
May the 1st can't come quick enough, let's just get rid of the bunch of w☆☆☆☆rs.
They are a total waste of space and our money

Oxfordshire County Council / Traffic Management

For several years Chinnor Residents have been asking OCC (and Thames Valley Police) to do something to combat the 24/7 speeding through our village. It's supposed to be 20mph but successive Traffic Surveys have shown that 90% of motorists ignore the limit and most drive through at 40-60 mph, with some recorded at speeds of 80-90mph. The Councillors and City Hall officials we have dealt with are arrogant and full of their self-importance, but inept and over five years have prevaricated and repeatedly lied to us. The Council appears to have a dysfunctional relationship with Thames Valley Police and the 'Vision Zero 2050' strategy is a joke. Sticking tiny 20mph signs up in villages has zero effect unless the police monitor and enforce the limit. The population of Chinnor is approaching 10,000 people and we don't even have Vehicle Activated Signs, but they do in small villages such as Kingston Blount, Pyrton, Britwell Salome etc. Our councillors and paid officials need to step up for the communities they are supposed to be serving.

I used the park and ride facility at Oxford Parkway. I travel all over Europe an the UK using these facilities when available, preferring to avoid city centre for environmental reasons. I have now incurred a £100 fine for not paying for a car park ticket. I have never visited a park and ride scheme where payment is needed for the car park and separately the bus ticket. This is not clear on the signeage. This looks like entrapment, borne out by the extortionate fine for such an offence. I am aware that others have fallen foul of this tactic and plan to take it further. If I visit Oxford in future, I will pay in the city centre instead. This is a shame and not consistent with welcoming visitors to a beautiful city.

Bristow and sutor , the company you use to collect debt , they are bullies and threatening behaviour and using scare tactics , I've just been threatened with the possibility of prison if I don't make full payment today . They need reviewing by yourselves.