Oxford City Council is on track to becoming the first city to introduce a Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) with plans on banning all petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from entering its city centre.
Transport is the most significant source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in Oxford. Data from the city’s 74 air pollution monitoring stations in 2018 found that four locations in Oxford have nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels above the legal limit.
Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council have published a final draft of their proposed ZEZ with plans of enforcement coming into effect as early as December 2020.
The proposed ‘Red Zone’ will cover a small area of the city centre and will apply to all non-compliant vehicles, including private cars. Non-compliant vehicles who choose to enter the zone will face a £10 charge between 7am and 7pm.
The proposal also outlines a ‘Green Zone’ to be introduced in 2021/22 which will cover the rest of the city centre.
Both councils have launched an informal consultation on the draft final scheme for the Red Zone, a consultation for the Green Zone has not yet been made available.
To learn more on the ZEZ, click here.