Lib Dems call for Low Emission Zone in Central Oxford

4.28.00pm GMT Tue 7th Feb 2006

Liberal Democrat councillors representing central Oxford have called for action to create and enforce a Low Emission Zone in the area, to improve air quality.

County councillor Alan Armitage called on the county council cabinet, during their meeting today, not to miss the opportunity of the creation of a new government-backed Local Area Agreement to agree targets to improve air quality. However, the leader of the council refused to change anything in the proposal he was putting to the exclusively Tory cabinet for approval.

Cllr Armitage said, "The county council admits that levels of Nitrogen Dioxide are above national standards set in the Air Quality Regulations. But they refuse to do anything about it. In fact, by making parking in central Oxford free in the evenings and on Sundays, the Tories are inviting more cars into the city, which is bound to make pollution worse. The Local Area Agreement could have been seen as a way of channelling new government money into something which would make a difference to people living in and visiting central Oxford."

Carfax ward councillor Paul Sargent added, "Feedback from Lib Dem surveys tells us that people feel the air in the centre of the city is badly polluted at certain times of the year. Students feel particularly strongly about this. We need a commitment from the county and city councils to do something about this, and a Low Emission Zone would be a good start."