Oxford’s zero emission zone (ZEZ) pilot is set for approval, after further improvements were made following a final round of public consultation.
The pilot will start in August this year should Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinets agree to the latest version of the zone, which would work in a similar way to the London Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone.
It will restrict polluting vehicles from key city centre streets between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. Signs will be installed around the perimeter of the zone and on the routes into the city to notify drivers of the ZEZ pilot. ANPR cameras will be used to enforce the zone.
Those who drive polluting vehicles into the zone will be fined, with the level of fine dependent on how polluting the vehicle is. Zero-emission vehicles (0g/km CO2) are exempt while ultra-low emission vehicles (less than 75g/km CO2) will be charged £2 per day from August 2021, rising to £4 per day from August 2025.
Clean air zone compliant vehicles (Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel four-wheel vehicles, and vehicles with fewer than four wheels that emit 75g/km CO2 or more) will be charged £4 per day from August 2021, rising to £8 per day from August 2025. Vehicles that do not meet the aforementioned standards will be charged £10 per day from August 2021, rising to £20 from August 2025.
Drivers or registered keepers of vehicles with CO2 emissions greater than 0g/km used in the zone during the charging hours would need to pay the required charge either before entering the zone or by midnight on the day after entering the zone.
The final ZEZ pilot will cover New Road, between Bonn Square and its junction with Castle Street; Bonn Square; Queen Street; Cornmarket Street; New Inn Hall Street; Shoe Lane; Market Street, from its junction with Cornmarket extending east for 40m; Ship Street, and St Michael’s Street.
Under the requirement of the scheme, income raised through the ZEZ may be used to cover implementation and running costs. According to Oxford City Council, the remaining income will be used to help residents and businesses make the transition to zero-emission vehicles, and on other schemes that promote zero- and low-emission transport in the city.
Oxfordshire County Council as the transport authority is responsible for procurement of the back office and enforcement systems and signage, which require DfT approval.
Councillor Yvonne Constance, cabinet member for environment, Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Not only will the zero emission zone make a difference to the quality of life and health of people living and working in the city centre, we are showing that change is possible as we start to respond seriously with climate action.”
The city and county councils have held three rounds of public consultation since the ZEZ was first proposed in 2015, and held a final round of consultation on the pilot between November 2020 and January 2021. Some 916 responses were received via an online survey, letter and email and the results show that residents and businesses are broadly in favour of the proposals.
The latest proposals include full exemptions for professional care and health workers while they are carrying out formal duties; students with acute financial hardship who need to enter the ZEZ pilot area to deliver or collect belongings at the start and end of university terms; and blue badge holders for up to two vehicles until at least August 2025 – at which point a review will decide whether to extend the discount.
Emergency service vehicles, hearses, military vehicles and historic tax class vehicles will also be exempt while a 90% discount has been agreed for residents living within the ZEZ pilot for a maximum of two vehicles per address until August 2030 and for businesses operating in the ZEZ pilot for a maximum of 10 vehicles registered to the business until 2025.
Furthermore, hybrid private hire taxis and non-Oxford licensed Hackney carriage vehicles emitting less than 100g/km of CO2 will receive a 50% discount until August 2025.
Temporary exemptions will also be granted to deal with planned road closures where normal compliance with the scheme is not possible. Residents and businesses will need to apply for the exemptions. Colleges will be asked to apply for the exemptions on behalf of their students.
The pilot is the first phase of the ZEZ, which is set to cover most of Oxford city centre in 2022, subject to further public consultation. It is intended that the restrictions and exemptions applied within the pilot will be the same in the expanded ZEZ.
