Let's be pragmatic about any zero emissions zone

THERE has been a lot of comment and coverage in recent days about the idea of a zero emission zone in Oxford, starting in 2020.

Strong feelings seem often to have translated into misunderstandings about precisely what is planned.

I would like to set out exactly what we have in mind.

The idea of a zero emission zone in Oxford is contained in the county council’s Local Transport Plan, which covers the period 2015-2031.

Policies contained within that document will each be consulted upon individually, should we get to the stage where we can implement them.

That would certainly apply to a zero emission zone in Oxford – so no final decision has been taken and nor will one be taken for some time.

The long-term aim of the zero emission zone is to dramatically reduce transport-related air pollution across the city.

Clearly air pollution in British cities is not of the order it was a few decades ago when our economy was based far more on heavy industry.

London did not get its name ‘The Smoke’ without good reason.

Oxford may be known as a city of dreaming spires but in previous days those spires and the people who lived and worked beneath them were much more subject to grime and air pollution than we are in 2015.

However, the position is not perfect in Oxford or in similar towns and cities throughout England.

There is still a lot we can do and many councils across the country are looking to the future to embrace technology and make our air cleaner still.

We are but one of those hoping to see change in future times.

Debates rage about precisely how much of a health benefit such changes would bring about. However it is acknowledged that there clearly would be improvements – especially to respiratory health.

If technology allows, this is surely something at which we should be looking.

Our public health colleagues both within the council and nationally endorse such an approach.

In 2020 we envisage only a very small number of streets in the very centre of Oxford being part of a zero emission zone.

Aiming for a ‘zero emissions’ standard is clearly ambitious, so the area covered would have to be small to begin with, and would be focused on streets where access for general traffic is already restricted.

It is incredibly important to stress that it would only be as vehicle technology and infrastructure develops, and is both widely available and affordable, that we would start to introduce zero emissions streets across any wider area of the city. Clearly it would be impossible to impose a large zero emission zone if technology has not moved on from where it currently stands as we enter the 2020s.

Our whole policy will be pragmatic and practical.

It will need to keep step with technological developments and a zero emission zone would be on the basis of a step-by-step, phased introduction.

Timescales would be kept under constant review based on such technological developments.

Before any changes were introduced there would be full consultation with (among others) bus and taxi companies, other transport operators and local people.

I hope that people will be able to see that the council is simply not imposing blanket bans on motorists that would be out of step with the reality of the transport environment in any year between now and 2030.

Interpretations to the contrary are simply wide of the mark.