In oxford a 5G telephone mast on the A40 near Cutteslowe Roundabout was set alight at about 20: 45 GMT on Thursday evening, triggering an arson investigation and the closure of the A40 eastbound between Cutteslowe Roundabout and Marsh Lane.
What exactly happened on the A40 near Cutteslowe Roundabout in Oxford?
Thames Valley Police said the mast caught fire at about 20: 45 GMT on Thursday evening after an unidentified liquid was used to set light to the structure. The blaze was raised to the attention of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which believed the fire could have been started deliberately. The A40 eastbound has remained closed between Cutteslowe Roundabout and Marsh Lane since Thursday evening while the investigation and safety work continue. Police said no-one had been injured and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Why were congestion charges suspended and what responses followed?
Oxfordshire County Council said the A40 closure caused “severe delays” for traffic on surrounding roads, including Marston Ferry Road, which is home to one of oxford’s six congestion charging points. The council noted that the charge point usually sees car drivers face a £5 fee between 07: 00 GMT and 09: 00, and from 15: 00 to 18: 00, every Monday to Saturday.
Because the closure affected movement and access, the council said charges during Friday would not be enforced — a first for the congestion charge scheme that began in October. The council added that any penalty charges would be cancelled and that those who paid in advance or used a prepaid permit would be reimbursed. Separately, police launched an arson investigation and asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
The temporary suspension of charges and the promise of refunds were practical responses intended to ease the immediate economic and logistical impact on drivers who would otherwise face fines or lose prepaid fees. The road was expected to reopen on Saturday once the damaged mast had been removed and the carriageway made safe, leaving residents and commuters watching for the next update as investigators work to establish how and why the mast was ignited.
Back at the roundabout, emergency services remain at the centre of the response: Thames Valley Police continuing their inquiry, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service having assessed the blaze as potentially deliberate, and Oxfordshire County Council managing the traffic and billing fallout. Together, those institutional actions map the immediate route from incident to resolution — but they also leave outstanding questions about motive and accountability while the arson investigation proceeds.
As crews prepare for removal of the damaged mast and roadworks to make the carriageway safe, the community that uses the A40 will be watching for answers. The appeal for witnesses stands as the next step in moving from damage control toward clarity, and motorists affected by the disruption will be monitoring refunds and the promised reopening of the route.
