A motion for the publication of data about air quality in the proposed areas for the expansion of Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) was rejected by the Oxford City Council on Monday 27th January.
David Henwood, a councillor from the Oxford Independent Alliance, motioned for the City Council to publish a supplement to the 2023 Air Quality Annual Status report to decide whether the planned £5.2 million expansion of the ZEZ remains “objectively justified”. He argued that the report would provide greater public knowledge of nitrogen dioxide levels. The Council’s climate policy previously faced scrutiny after it suspended a traffic filter trial, blaming the Botley Road closure.
Oxford has been a designated Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) for nitrogen dioxide since 2010. It is the responsibility of local authorities to declare themselves an AQMA if they believe air quality standards will not be met by relevant deadlines.
Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone was introduced in February 2022 by the County Council, covering central roads such as Cornmarket Street and Ship Street. Motorists driving petrol and diesel vehicles can incur charges varying from £2 to £10 if they enter the zone between 7am and 7pm. Its planned 2026 expansion would cover a much larger area including parts of Jericho and streets near Worcester, Magdalen, and Merton colleges.
Members of the Independent Oxford Alliance, Oxford Independence Group and Real Independents voted to support the motion. During the last local election, members of these independent groups campaigned to remove the ZEZ.
The motion was voted against by every Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green councillor. Chris Smowdon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Oxford City Council expressed concern at the motion’s attempt to question the ZEZ’s expansion, describing it as an “attempted gotcha” which failed to acknowledge that cars emit harmful chemicals other than nitrogen dioxide, and that even if only a small level of nitrogen dioxide was found in the extended area, it would still be hazardous.
Protestors holding banners that read “Climate Policy Starts at Home”, “Think Global Act Local” and “There Is No Planet B” entered the public gallery as Henwood’s motion was introduced. Josie Procter, who organised the protest, expressed concern with Henwood’s motion saying: “a recent uptick in commentary from elected councillors…seems to ignore the very real current climate emergency, despite both city and county councils making climate emergency declarations as long ago as 2019.”
Since the full council meeting on 27th January, Oxford City Council have made public a Source Apportionment Study demonstrating which pollution sources in Oxford contribute most to air pollution levels. It aims to use data on both nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter levels – emitted by petrol and diesel cars – to identify the necessary reduction in pollutant emissions to achieve the Council’s target.
The data from across Oxford shows that road transport remains the largest contributor to air pollution, accounting for 32% of total NOx – a combination of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide – emissions. The percentage of road transport emissions contributed by buses has decreased by 28% since the last Source Apportionment Report, due to the introduction of 159 electric buses in January 2025 under the ZEBRA scheme.
Annual mean nitrogen dioxide levels across Oxford decreased by 18% between 2021 and 2023, meaning they have stayed within the legal limit. According to a City Council press release, Oxford is currently in compliance with the UK’s legal limit for nitrogen dioxide.
Cherwell have contacted Councillor David Henwood and Councillor Chris Jarvis for comment.
