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Zero Emission Zone Pilot launching February 2022
We're really happy to announce that the Oxford Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot is set to launch in February 2022.
The new launch dates avoid any disruption that might have been created by introducing the ZEZ pilot in the run up to Christmas. Businesses have been hit by shortages and Covid’s lingering effects, so we want to give Oxford’s economy a helping hand to have the best Christmas possible.
Under the ZEZ pilot, and similar to the London Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone, polluting vehicles will be charged if driven in key city centre streets between 7am - 7pm, seven days a week.
The ZEZ will help to make our city a greener, cleaner, healthier and more attractive place to live, work, visit and shop. It is a vital step in our fight to tackle the climate emergency.
The exact start date for the pilot will be confirmed later this year, followed by a review of the timeline for the wider ZEZ to cover most of Oxford city centre.
Rapid Electric Vehicle Chargers available for public use
A new rapid electric charging point on Keble Road and the existing points at Manzil Way Gardens are now open for shared use by both members of the public and electric taxi drivers.
The charging points will both feature bays dedicated to only electric taxis and emergency vehicles, as well as bays that will temporarily be open for use by the general public. Public bays can be used at a public charging rate of £0.34 per kWh and a full charge will take less than an hour.
We hope that the temporary public use of the rapid charging points will help encourage EV uptake across the city as we continue works to improve charging infrastructure and build the UK’s largest public electric vehicle charging hub at Redbridge Park & Ride.
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Museum of Oxford reopening
The date has been set for the Museum of Oxford's reopening!
The Museum, which has been in redevelopment since 2018, will reopen to the public on 11 October. It is the only museum dedicated to telling the story of Oxford and its people. From the Romans' time in the city, to the history of Frank Cooper's famous marmalade in the 19th century, right up until the present day: it's jam-packed with interesting local stories.
The redevelopment will see the Museum triple in size and increase the number of exhibits from 286 to around 750. Alongside the construction of the new space and exhibits, the funding will allow for a three-year programme of exciting activities; including community exhibitions, learning resources for schools, family workshops, and reminiscence projects.
We can't wait to visit and see all of the new exhibits in place! But if you just can't wait and are looking for some behind-the-scenes action to keep you going, then keep an eye on our social media channels and the Museum's website.
University students returning to Oxford
Despite this week's late heatwave, summer is sadly coming to an end. And with the end of summer comes the start of a new academic year in the city.
Students from Oxford and Brookes Universities are an essential part of life here, with businesses and communities both feeling the impact of student restrictions the past year.
We're looking forward to welcoming them back and continuing our work with the universities to make sure everyone is safe and the spread of Covid is minimised. With many local residents and returning students now vaccinated, the risks are lower this year, however, the universities will continue to take precautions.
Measure include:
- Support to encourage students to take up their vaccine appointments as early as possible, before they arrive at university if they can
- Pop-up vaccination centres provided at both universities for those who have not been able to get vaccinated before attending
- Encouraging students to get tested before they arrive at university, and to keep home testing twice weekly throughout the term
- PCR testing for symptomatic cases is available on site at Oxford Brookes and Oxford University
- Health guidance for staff and students at both universities, covering the use of face coverings, testing and self isolation
- Many larger lectures taking place online, with smaller sessions going ahead in-person, with appropriate safety measures in place.
We encourage everyone to continue making sensible decisions and respect each other.
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Over 250 former rough sleepers now in housing
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, we've been able to help more than 250 former rough sleepers into settled housing, but our work doesn't end there.
Nobody should end up sleeping rough in Oxford and we aim to ensure accommodation is available on an ongoing basis for people to access directly from the street.
We are working with partners throughout the County to develop a system wide approach to tackling homelessness across Oxfordshire. Together, we're in the process of commissioning a ‘Housing Led’ strategy for tackling homelessness, with a focus on single people and rough sleepers.
Housing led approaches like Housing First mean that people experiencing homelessness should be offered permanent housing immediately and without preconditions like engaging with treatment services, instead of moving from the streets to independent living in stages.
To support our move towards a Housing First approach we have partnered with A2Dominion. The A2Dominion Care & Support team secured the partnership through a competitive process that saw them chosen above several other national providers.
The current partnership will be in place until April 2024 and will provide intensive support and housing to 20 individuals with complex needs across Oxford.
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Support for Afghan refugees
As the UK takes refugees from Afghanistan, councils across the country are looking at how they and their communities can offer a new home to new arrivals. In Oxford we also want to play our part, and we are working hard to figure out how we can support Afghans in the UK. We will continue to update our website as our plans progress, so please do keep checking it.
Oxford’s communities have already been incredibly generous and have come forward with offers of support and donations. Donations of clothes, toys, toiletries etc have been welcome, but Oxfordshire County Council now has enough of these items for local needs. If any further donations are needed they will create a wishlist with specific items.
If you would like to make a monetary donation, no matter how small, please consider donating to a local refugee charity that supports those most in need, no matter where they are from. In Oxford, Asylum Welcome and Refugee Resource both work with the Council to support refugees and asylum seekers. The money gives them the flexibility to provide specific items people need, or to pay for counselling, language skills or other services, as needed.
If you, or someone you know, is a refugee in Oxford looking for more information about support and living in Oxford, then we are here to help. Please visit our pages for refugees on the website for more information.
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St Giles' Fair
What a week to welcome St Giles' Fair back to the city, the sun was shining and spirits were high!
Oxford's St Giles' Fair is one of the oldest fairs in the country, so we were pleased to see it back for 2021. Its return also coincided with World Fun Fair Month, a celebration of the past, present and future of all travelling fairs internationally.
Oxford Lord Mayor, Councillor Mark Lygo, was on-hand to officially open the celebrations and, with the help of the city Rector, Reverend Anthony Buckley, "officially" try out some of the rides. It looks like the ghost train, dodgems and carousel have got their stamp of approval.
You can see how they got on by clicking on the button below.
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9/11 anniversary
Ahead of the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this Saturday, Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, reflects on the significance of the anniversary for people in Oxford and across the country:
"This year's 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is particularly poignant. The regime that harboured the terrorists of 9/11 is back in control of Afghanistan, and we are once again dealing with the humanitarian fallout.
Today we are welcoming Afghans to this country who have worked alongside us, and others who are targets for the Taliban because of their gender, ethnicity, sexuality or beliefs.
This anniversary, with heavy hearts, we cannot talk about the progress we've made, but we can reflect that our strongest response to oppression is to remain true to our values and unbowed by attacks on our freedom."
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www.oxford.gov.uk
01865 249811
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