Britain has opened a pilot Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in Oxford which is completely geared toward reducing air pollution..
Under the ZEZ program, petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrids, incur a daily charge of £2 to £10 per day depending on the vehicle’s emissions level, unless the vehicles are eligible for a discount or exemption. Zero-emission vehicles, like electric cars, do not have to pay any charges.
The pilot covers a small number of streets, including New Road, between Bonn Square and its junction with Castle Street; New Inn Hall Street; Queen Street and Cornmarket Street.
The Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council will draw insights from the pilot before expanding the zone to most of Oxford city centre in 2023.
“The launch of Britain’s first Zero Emission Zone on 28 February would not have happened without many people’s enthusiasm, expertise, and time,” Councillor Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council, said. “The City Council has chosen to set the toughest air quality standards of any local authority in the country. There is no safe level of air pollution.
Through the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, the city council has helped to establish a data-led, science-based target of creating a net zero city by 2040.
The ZEZ payments can be made online on the county council’s website. Payments can be made six days in advance or six days after the vehicle has been driven in the zone.
