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Oxford consults on plans for UK’s first Zero Emissions Zone

‘Red Zone’ could be brought in by end of year in bid to tackle climate emergency

Oxford City Council is consulting on the implementation of what it says will be the UK’s first Zero Emissions Zone (ZEZ), with the local authority one of the latest cities in the UK to announce plans to tackle the climate emergency.

The proposals, drawn up in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council, which is the relevant highways authority for the city, would see the introduction of a ‘Red Zone’ covering a large part of the city centre by the end of this year.

The council has summarised the key features of the scheme as follows:

The introduction of a charging scheme in the Red Zone between 7am-7pm, with a £10 charge for non-compliant vehicles entering the zone.

Discounts for all blue badge holders entering the zone until December 2024.

Exemptions for businesses registered in the Red Zone until December 2024, followed by a discount until December 2030.

A 90% discount for residents living in the zone until December 2030.

Buses and Oxford licensed Hackney Carriages which drive within the planned Zero Emission have already agreed timelines for zero emissions fleets across Oxford and will not be subject to charges.  

An informal consultation on the plans is currently open and runs until 31 January, and the council adds that it also plans for a Green Zone covering the rest of the city centre to be introduced in 2021/22, subject to a separate consultation nearer the time.

Councillor Tom Hayes, cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council, said: “2020 will be a crunch year for our climate and all our futures. We face a climate emergency that threatens all of our futures.

“For the sake of everyone in Oxford, and especially our children’s lungs, we must clean up the lethal air we’re all breathing. Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone will come into force this year and help make 2020 the year we make a game-changing difference.

“With our strengthened Zero Emission Zone and the introduction of hundreds of supporting charging points, our medieval city is leading the electric vehicle revolution.

Our two councils have taken a fresh look at the big idea of charging commuters to drive polluting vehicles in and out of the city centre, he added, “And we’re listening to Oxford’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change by speeding up our journey to a city-wide Zero Emission Zone.

“Local government isn’t prepared to delay action. Our two councils are working together to enhance lives here in Oxford and across the market towns and villages of Oxfordshire.”

Earlier this month we reported how active travel campaigners in Oxford had criticised a survey posted online by the city council which sought people’s views on issues they wanted to see tackled in the city centre, with “cyclists riding irresponsibly” the only transport-related issue highlighted.

> ‘Cyclists riding irresponsibly’ the only transport-related problem in Oxford city centre according to council survey

The Public Attitude Survey on the City Centre consultation was launched last November and closed on Sunday 12 January.

In recent weeks, city councils in York and Birmingham have both announced radical measures aimed at curbing private car use.

In York, the council proposes banning private motorists from the central zone bounded by the city’s medieval walls.

> Ban on cars could treble levels of cycling in York, say campaigners

Meanwhile, as we reported on Monday, Birmingham plans to split the centre of the West Midlands city into a number of ‘cells’ with motorists unable to move between them within the central zone.

 > Birmingham heralds end to “golden age of cars” by banning trips by private motorists across city centre

Instead, they would have to drive out to the ring road and then access the zone where their destination lies from there.

As with the York plan, the scheme is intended to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport, while tackling air pollution and improving the quality of life for residents.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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5 comments

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PRSboy | 4 years ago
1 like

Its not the speed humps I'm worried about... its the chicanes.  They make no difference at all to speeds (what modern car cannot accelerate away back up to over 30 in very short order), as far as I can see they make speeds worse as drivers exceed the speed limit in order to scoot past whilst the way is clear.  Not only that, they force drivers into the way of oncoming road users who are minding their own business.  Also they only stop the traffic on one side of the carriageway, leaving the other side to speed away merrily if they wish.

I've often proposed the idea of 'active' speed humps.  Do less than the speed limit and there is no hump at all.  However, as an approaching vehicle's speed over the limit increases, so does the hump via hydraulic rams!

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
2 likes

Unfortunately we are going to have to live with the extra pollution that is caused by traffic calming measures because the operators of the traffic cannot ever be trusted to drive at sensible speeds.

Speed bumps are said to cause more brake wear and then exhaust pollution as the car is accelerated away, but of course if the vehicle was being driven at the correct speed for both the road and the hump no change in speed is required.

On my unsuspended bicycles I feel no need to slow down for a speed hump, just loosen my arms and raise my arse a bit, if needed.  On the one with front suspension I might speed up a bit and get a bit of air, I remember there being some tabletop calming in Birmingham that I could, well, tabletop.

The fact that I can pretty much do any speed hump at any speed I desire does seem to confuse many drivers, some of whom seem to try and overtake whilst approaching a speed hump only to have to brake heavily to protect their precious vehicle and at most all I have to do is shift my weight a bit.

Avatar
PRSboy | 4 years ago
0 likes

Looks good.

Can Oxfordshire council also review the use of 'traffic calming' devices such as the give-way chicanes at the entrance to villages which cause increased local pollution, noise and congestion, as well as making roads more dangerous for vulnerable road users?

Avatar
Rich_cb | 4 years ago
1 like

There seems to have been a lot of these announcements recently.

Cardiff has just announced a really promising scheme, lots of new segregated cycle paths, congestion charging and new public transport routes.

Avatar
ktache | 4 years ago
3 likes

It will not be a Zero Emmision Zone until all vehicles making emmissions are fully banned, and not just during the day, the proposals outlined above are for a pollution charging zone.

It's always odd how the very polluting ancient tech diesel taxis never seem to be included.

Buses, they move so many people, but dirty taxis, hmmm...

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