Zero Emission Zone 'not about attacking motorists'

A city's Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) is "not about attacking motorists", supporters of the traffic measures have said.

The final rollout of Oxford's ZEZ - expected to take place during the 2026/2027 financial year - will involve most of the city centre.

The city council this week rejected a motion to publish an analysis of air pollution in the area where the zone would be expanded to.

Green councillor Chris Jarvis told the meeting the scheme was "about improving public health".

Mr Jarvis said the plans were "not about attacking motorists or making motorists' life more difficult".

"Disproportionately the people who drive the most polluting vehicles are at the richest ends of society, and those who suffer the worst effects are at the poorest ends of society," he added.

The Independent Oxford Alliance motion requested an analysis of nitrogen oxide (NO2) air pollution in the proposed expanded ZEZ, and for any future reports to include an in-depth analysis of pollution levels in the proposed expanded zone.

Independent councillor Dr Amar Latif said: "At heart the motion is about getting more information."

"If we as an authority vote against this motion, residents will ask what we are trying to hide," he said.

David Henwood, who put the motion forward, added: "We want to see what those levels are, and we want to be accountable to our public and show them what that data is."

But Lib Dem party leader Chris Smowton called the motion "an attempted gotcha", adding it "ignores that any level of NO2 pollution is hazardous to health" and that it is not the only pollutant emitted by motor vehicles.

The current ZEZ scheme, which involves charging non-electric vehicle drivers with the aim of improving air quality, is being delivered by Oxfordshire County Council - though the city council previously oversaw it.

The zone is supported by the Liberal Democrats and Green Party coalition-run county council, as well as the Labour-run city council.

It was Labour that initially developed the scheme, although the idea was first proposed in 2015 by the then Conservative-run county council.

The Tories now oppose the scheme though, questioning its impact on businesses.

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