Oxford first UK city to ban petrol, diesel cars from centre
Kenya’s government on Thursday banned protests in main LONDON: The university city of Oxcity centres, citing lawlessness during ford has unveiled plans to ban petrol opposition rallies against the electoral and diesel cars from its centre as part commission ahead of a scheduled of the most radical set of proposals so presidential poll re-run. far in Britain to curb pollution.
The move comes as opposition Whilst London is rolling out an leader Raila Odinga called for daily “ultra low emission zone”, which will protests next week to keep up pressure see the most gas-guzzling vehicles pay on election officials to reform, after his daily charges to enter the city centre refusal to take part in the October 26 from 2020, Oxford’s “Zero Emission vote plunged the country into uncerZone” will ban emitting vehicles from tainty. entering part of the city centre from
“Due to the clear, present and imthat date. minent danger of breach of peace, the Since German carmaker Volkswagovernment notifies the public that, gen admitted in 2015 to cheating US for the time being, we will not allow emissions tests, politicians around the demonstrations within the central world have unveiled plans to clamp business districts of Nairobi, Momring some from visiting city centres peaceful. The organisers shall be held down on diesel vehicles in a bid to imbasa and Kisumu,” said Security Minon demonstration days. personally liable for any breach of law prove air quality and meet more strinister Fred Matiangi. There have also been incidents of during the demonstrations,” he said. gent targets.
“The inspector general of pickpocketing and muggings on the Odinga said this week that he was “All of us who drive or use petrol has been advised accordingly.” edges of the protests. withdrawing from the scheduled reor diesel vehicles through Oxford are
Opposition MPs said they would Matiangi said the protests had rerun, against President Uhuru Kenycontributing to the city’s toxic air,” said defy the order and continue the prosulted in “attacks on police stations, atta whose victory in the original city council board member John Tantests which have seen hundredsner.ofop-attacksonpoliceofficersoccasioningAugustpollwasannulledlastmonth position supporters march through grievous bodily harm, serious disrupby the Supreme Court citing wide“Everyone needs to do their bit — the streets, sometimes burning tyres tion of normal business, assault on inspread irregularities. from national government and local and clashing with police who have nocent civilians, destruction and lootOdinga said that without fundaauthorities to businesses and residents used tear gas to disperse crowds. ing of property,” and threatened legal mental reforms to the Independent — to end this public health emer
Though relatively small, the proaction. Electoral and Boundaries Commisgency.” Oxford will also introduce tests have caused outsized disruption, “It is the responsibility of the orsion (IEBC), the vote would not be reduced parking fees for electric vehiforcing shops to close up and deter- ganiser that all participants remain free and fair. cles and electric-taxi ranks. police
In the first stage of its plans from 2020, taxis, cars, light commercial vehicles and buses which are non zero-emission, will be banned from six streets in the city centre, including near the world-famous Oxford Union debating society.
The zone will be gradually widened to include more streets and further vehicle types until 2035 when all emitting vehicles, including lorries, will be banned from the centre.
Local politicians will draw up the final plans after a consultation closes on November 26.
Britain has said it will ban the sale of all new diesel and petrol cars from 2040, replicating plans by France and the mayors of Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and Athens, who aim to ban diesel vehicles from their city centres by 2025.