Drivers will face fines in certain city centre streets from next year if they don’t have exemptions, as part of Zero Emission Zone proposals.

Under the plan, non-zero emission vehicles using certain streets in the zone between 7am and 7pm in the city centre will be subject to charges.

The city and county councils said the initiative would launch in February to avoid any disruption in the run-up to Christmas.

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The pilot scheme will start in Bonn Square, Queen Street, Cornmarket, part of Market Street, Ship Street, St Michael's Street, New Inn Hall Street, and Shoe Lane, in the so-called "red zone". These streets are not major traffic routes.

A wider ZEZ covering the rest of the city centre will follow later.

Zero emission vehicles will not be charged to drive in the zone.

Drivers can apply for exemptions and discounts.

For years the councils have been introducing different transport initiatives designed to protect the environment.

These include the High Street bus gate, and a series of other bus gates around the city which restrict access to some vehicles using cameras.

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The Walton Street barrier closed off Walton Street to traffic at its junction with Beaumont Street for about 18 months but this trial has now been abandoned.

And a Low Traffic Neighbourhood has been trialled in Cowley.

Electric scooters have been trialled in Headington, and wider cycle lanes have been introduced in parts of the city.