Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council have revealed plans to open the country’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in the city.
It goes live in two phases from February 2022.
In the launch pilot scheme, petrol and diesel car drivers will be required to pay to enter the city centre in what’s being called the ‘red zone’.
The ‘green zone’, covering the wider city centre, will go live later, at a date to be confirmed.
It will work with a stricter version of the London’s ULEZ emission standards. While ULEZ-compliant vehicles go into the London zone for free, in Oxford they’ll pay a discounted rate.
Only zero emission cars will travel in the green zone for free – making it much more strict than the growing number of Clean Air Zones rolling out across the UK.
Red zone residents to get discount until 2025
The red zone will be live from 7am until 7pm. Drivers of non-compliant cars will be liable for a £10 charge.
Taxis licenced by Oxford City Council can use it for free, as can buses, emergency service vehicles and historic vehicles (those registered 40 years ago or more).
Blue Badge holders, won’t pay in full until 2024. Businesses in the red zone will be eligible for a discount until 2030.
Private residents living in the Oxford ZEZ will get a 90 percent discount until 31 July 2025 (five years earlier than a previous December 2030 target end date).
Where is the red zone? You could likely walk it inside half an hour. It’s a small patch of roads between Gloucester Green, Westgate and the Sheldonian Theatre.
Oxford Zero Emission Zone ‘leading the EV revolution’
“With our strengthened Zero Emission Zone and the introduction of hundreds of supporting charging points, our medieval city is leading the electric vehicle revolution,” said Councillor Tom Hayes, cabinet member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council.
“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.
“And we’re listening to Oxford’s Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change by speeding up our journey to a city-wide Zero Emission Zone.”
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