ZEZ: Madrid battles Oxford for world's first zero emissions zone

The Spanish capital could ban all polluting vehicles from its city centre by 2025 - meaning Oxford would miss out on having the world first's ZEZ.

Yesterday, the 'Madrid Central' plan entered its first stage.

All petrol and diesel vehicles registered before a certain date have been banned, unless they are used by residents, or have other exemptions. Taxis which will be allowed into the zone until late 2022.

Oxford's ZEZ is also planned to begin in stages, with a full ban scheduled for 2035.

The World Health Organisation has told the Oxford Mail that it backs the plan, which has a number of critics, including the Oxford Bus Company.

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In 2016, the mayors of Paris, Athens and Mexico City joined Madrid in planning to remove diesel vehicles by 2025.

Elsewhere, Oslo shelved plans to make its city centre car-free, but is aiming for the 'fewest vehicles possible' and Hamburg has banned some older diesel vehicles from two roads.

Oxford City councillor Tom Hayes, Board Member for Safer, Greener, Environment, said: "Oxford and Madrid are leading the way on the global journey to Zero Emissions. A world of cities is the right formula for tackling inequality, public health crises, and climate change because local governments understand that we have to make a difference to people’s lives.

"Cities around the world are finding ways to do what national governments can’t and uniquely we’re doing it together. Here in Oxford, we’re working with local partners to clean up dirty air and improve people’s health, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable."

He continued: "But we’re also joining up with cities such as Nottingham, Southampton, and Brighton and Hove, who have all signed Oxford’s Charter for Cleaner Air, which lays out ten changes we need from Government to allow us to accelerate the journey to Zero Emissions."