Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council have announced that, following 15 months of listening to bus operators and businesses, it is to relax the proposed Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in Oxford city centre
Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council had originally planned to introduce strict ZEZ in parts of Oxford city centre by the end of 2020 but these plans have now been relaxed after consultations with bus operators and local businesses.
The revised proposals will still see emission requirements on vehicles entering Oxford city centre with restrictions increased gradually between 2020 and 2035, but at a slower pace.
By the end of 2020 the city centre Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will be extended, across the Green Zone, to require local buses to meet Euro VI standards for nitrogen dioxide.
This could be enforced through bus operator licensing.
2022 will see the councils considering measures for non-local buses to encourage adoption of zero-emission vehicles or place restrictions on non-zero emission vehicles entering the Green Zone.
This could potentially impact coach companies visiting Oxford on private hire or day trips as the current drop off area at St Giles is inside the Green Zone.
the red zone will require local buses using Queen Street to be zero emissions
During 2025 the councils are considering extending the emission-based measures within the Green Zone to include cars. Hackney carriage taxi drivers will be required to have zero-emission capable vehicles to renew their licence or receive a new licence. The final phase in 2035 will see councils considering restricting all non-zero emission capable vehicles – including all buses, vans, lorries and cars – from entering the Green Zone.
A press release from Oxford City Council contained comments from both of Oxford’s main bus operators. Chris Coleman, Managing Director of Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, said: “Across the UK, Stagecoach has invested more than £1billion in greener buses over the past decade, many of which have been introduced in Oxfordshire.
We look forward to working in partnership with the council to deliver an even better local environment and encourage more people to switch from the car to greener and smarter bus travel.”
Phil Southall, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “I very much welcome the phased approach that the local authorities have taken to introducing the Zero Emission Zone and this makes its delivery challenging but much more realistic.
“Whilst a number of our buses already meet the Euro VI standard and others will be upgraded in the coming months, we still need to purchase further vehicles to deliver an Ultra-Low Emission Zone in late 2020 but we are confident that we can achieve this within the time frame.”
A final decision on the introduction of the ZEZ is subject to approval by councillors at both city and county councils.
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