Talk of a low emission zone for Reading surfaced as councillors clashed over a controversial cycle lane.
London's ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) launched in April 2019 and was expanded to all boroughs and Heathrow in 2023. Drivers of more polluting vehicles based on their Euro rating must pay £12.50 a day to drive in the zone. Cities with 'class D' clean air zones that charge non‑compliant cars include Birmingham, Bristol and Oxford.
The possible scheme was raised during a debate on the borough council's Local Transport Delivery Plan - a multi‑million‑pound bid to win government funding. Measures include more electric vehicle charging, active travel schemes and speeded‑up bus journeys.
John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said active travel could cut "sedentary behaviour" while recognising people still need to drive. He said: "Some people, many people, need to drive and many people will have a vehicle, and from time to time they will use it.
"Let's leave the road to them, and let's talk about the vehicle that they are driving.
"Let's ensure that if they are driving on the road, let's ensure it's a vehicle that is not having pollutant emissions."
Opposition councillor Dave McElroy criticised Labour for not considering a low emission zone. He said: "For a moment there, I thought the lead member was going to announce something significant that would influence people's modal choices some sort of low emission zone or something.
"No, I guess we'll have to wait for a change of council if we're hoping to get anything other than more or less more of the same when it comes to transport."
He also called the Sidmouth Street cycle lane the elephant in the room as a project is being considered to shorten it and create an extra turning lane. Cllr McElroy (Green, Redlands) said: "Obviously, the whole experience we've had there has been quite frustrating and disappointing for something to go in, and now for it to be ripped out and replaced with something else."
The cycle lane was created using funding allocated by the Conservative government. Cllr Will Cross (Labour, Redlands) defended the rush for funds, saying: "Some people called it a begging bowl system, some people called it a Hunger Games style system, where local authorities had to rush to put in bids, to scramble against one another and to compete, and the funds allocated in perhaps quite an inconsistent way, which made it difficult for local authorities to be strategic and think long term.
"Sometimes it worked well for Reading, like with the levelling up funds for the library, other times we lost out.
"Particularly in this area of transport, this is a real opportunity for the local authority."
An initial version of the delivery plan was unanimously approved by the council's strategic environment, planning and transport committee for submission to government in March. A finalised version will be submitted in September.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
