PLANS to ban petrol and diesel vehicles from Oxford city centre by 2020 could lead to “chaos” and rising transport costs.

Oxford City Council environment boss John Tanner said the move to create a “zero emission zone” within five years could lead to bus fares rising and would force people to buy expensive electric cars.

And the plans have been strongly criticised by 001 Taxis managing director Mark Green, who warned prices could triple.

Oxfordshire County Council will vote on Local Transport Plan Four, which contains the proposals, at a meeting on September 8.

The authority said it wanted to start a city centre zero-emission zone for all vehicles by 2020 – though no specific area has been outlined.

This would be gradually extended over time to cover the whole city by 2030.

A zero-emission vehicle is defined as one that produces no waste products that pollutes the environment or disrupts the climate.

But Mr Tanner said, while the city council supported reducing emissions, creating a blanket ban on petrol and diesel vehicles was wrong.

He said: “If it means only electric cars in the city centre by 2020, it is a nonsense.

“Oxford City Council fully supports reducing emissions, which are harmful to health in Oxford.

“But that is better done step by step rather than trying to introduce a scheme that cannot actually work.

“If it was introduced I think more people would buy electric cars and bus companies would have to find a lot more investment and would put up bus fares, and it would be difficult to police.

“It would be chaotic for Oxford.

Mr Tanner said city council officers had already worked with their counterparts at the county council on developing a low emissions strategy.

In a consultation response to the local transport plan earlier this year, the city council had said it “strongly supported” the proposal of a zero-emission zone but had reservations about the timescale.

Mark Green, managing director at 001 Taxis, said: “It would be a disaster. We have lots of hybrid vehicles and now they would not even be included in this zone.

“Just this week we placed a £1m order with Mercedes for 30 E Class hybrids.

“Electric cars are twice the price of normal cars. To go fully electric by 2020 would be really unfeasible.Fares for passengers would treble.

“It would be very disappointing and we would really be lobbying against it because we have already got hybrids that run on electric below 30 miles per hour in the city centre.”

Zero-emission vehicles include those powered by electricity as well as hydrogen, and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

A low emission zone was introduced by the city council and county council in January 2014.

One of its main aims was to introduce cleaner buses with diesel-electric hybrid engines into the city centre.

Last year, the average hourly level of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide, which can cause lung damage, in Oxford High Street was 47 micrograms in each cubic metre of air.

This was above the Government’s target of 40 micrograms.

City council leader Bob Price said the policy could marginalise those who could not afford electric cars.

He said: “Our view has always been that we have to reduce emissions within the technology that is available.

“It is not entirely clear that by 2020 electrical technology will be sufficiently advanced.

“It would mean taxis and delivery vehicles and so on would have to be electric. It could also restrict access to the city centre to a rather elite group of people.”

In the past few years Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach have introduced hybrid buses on many of the city’s routes.

Oxford Bus Company said fully hydrogen powered buses, which would only emit water, would cost £1m each.

Oxford Bus Company managing director Phil Southall said: “There’s no doubt that the goal of a zero-emission zone is achievable, but the question is how quickly can it be done?

“It’s accepted that a total ban on conventional road vehicles, lorries, taxis, cars and buses is not practical by 2020.

“Quite simply the technology needed is still in its infancy and is prohibitively expensive.”

Stagecoach managing director Martin Sutton said: “We believe that any standards to reduce emissions should apply equally to all vehicles accessing the city centre.”

County council deputy leader Rodney Rose said: “It is something we would all welcome.”