Proposed by Councillor Wolff, seconded by Councillor Simmons

Green member motion

Council notes the success, despite the bad weather, of Oxford's first World Car Free Day on Sunday 22 September which closed off Broad Street to cars. Council notes the recent decisions by local Government in London, Edinburgh, Norwich and others to introduce more regular (in some cases monthly) ‘car free’ days covering one or more streets in urban areas and around schools.

Council notes (as set out by the organisation London Car Free Days) that car free days provide many benefits:

1. improved air quality
2. enhanced enjoyment of historic settings and improved visitor experience.
3. increased footfall and dwell times for local commerce.
4. raised ambition for further pedestrian-priority city streets and secondary centres.
5. encouragement for people to discover the pleasures of walking and cycling.
6. an opportunity for local authorities and other organisations to experiment with, and monitor the impact of, street closures as pilots for wider or more regular schemes.

Council therefore offers its support for the creation of regular Car Free Days in Oxford as part of its longer term plans for the City Centre, and other parts of the City, noting that this is also aligned with our ambitions to reduce the City's carbon footprint. 

Council therefore asks the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Sustainable Transport to liaise with the County Council and relevant community organisations with the goal of establishing regular Car Free Days in Oxford.

This motion was not taken as the time allowed for debate had finished.

Proposed by Councillor Wolff, seconded by Councillor Simmons

Green member motion

World Car Free Day is on 22 September.  Council notes the recent decisions by local Government in London, Edinburgh, Norwich and others to declare ‘car free’ days covering one or more streets in urban areas and around schools.

Council notes (as set out by the organisation London Car Free Days) that car free days provide many benefits:

1.    improved air quality

2.    enhanced enjoyment of historic settings and improved visitor experience.

3.    increased footfall and dwell times for local commerce.

4.    raised ambition for further pedestrian-priority city streets and secondary centres.

5.    encouragement for people to discover the pleasures of walking and cycling.

6.    an opportunity for local authorities and residents organisations to experiment with and monitor the impact of street closures as pilots for wider or more regular schemes.

Council therefore offers its support for the creation of a Car Free Day in Oxford and asks the Cabinet Member responsible to liaise with the County Council and relevant community organisations with the goal of establishing regular Car Free Days in Oxford.

This motion was not taken as the time allowed for debate had finished.