Drivers have been spared from a controversial hike in driving costs after a council decided against doubling charges inside an emissions-based charging area.
Oxford County Council has voted against proposals that would have seen daily charges double inside the city’s Zero Emission Zone.
At present, drivers of non-electric vehicles are required to pay at least £2 to drive inside the city centre as part of a target to slash emissions.
Any vehicles which emit less than 75g/km of CO2, which includes most hybrids and low-carbon petrol vehicles, pay £2 a day, while any vehicle with a Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel engine is charged £4.
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Oxfordshire County Council voted to scrap plans to hike charges inside the Zero Emission Zone
All other vehicles which do not meet these standards are charged £10, while zero emission vehicles are not charged.
As part of a tiered rollout, original plans would have seen these charges double in August 2025, meaning some petrol and diesel drivers could have been forced to pay £20 a day.
Any discounts for Blue Badge holders, disabled tax class vehicles, business vehicles and hybrid taxis were also due to be removed at the end of July.
However, Oxford County Council has now decided to scrap these plans “indefinitely” and remove the deadlines to end the discounts.
The council cited “cost of living pressures”, which meant the additional charges were “not necessary or appropriate”.
Andrew Gant, cabinet member for transport, added that the decision was made as the Botley Road closure meant not enough progress had been made on other planned transport measures, including a traffic filter.
The council estimated that it would have raised around £620,000 between now and the end of the 2028 financial year if it were to move forward with higher charges and the removal of discounts.
However, the move was met with disapproval from Oxfordshire Liveable Streets, who criticised the council for scrapping the charges, rather than delaying them.
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Gant, who represents Wolvercote and Cutteslowe for the Liberal Democrats, said the cost of living crisis was still having an impact on many local people.
He added: “There’s often a wider debate around transport policy and we are often accused [of] taking money off motorists and punishing motorists.
“What I see in this report is a really detailed and thorough analysis of all aspects that are at play,” This is Oxfordshire reported.
The Zero Emission Zone is a one-of-a-kind scheme in the UK and is designed to help motorists switch to cleaner vehicles, slash emissions rates and improve traffic.
OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
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The proposed wider ZEZ map
Charges apply to motorists between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, with drivers able to pay the fees online.
The council is expected to launch a public consultation from early January 2026, which would question whether the ZEZ should be expanded to include much of the city.
Charges would remain the same, although the most polluting minibuses, light trucks, buses and coaches, and heavy goods vehicles could pay more than £10 and as much as £50.
Following the public consultation, the cabinet will decide on whether to proceed with the wider ZEZ plan.