Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers start legal action over council’s clampdown on emissions

Taxi drivers in the district have launched legal action against Wakefield Council following the authority’s decision to hike up licensing fees and introduce tough emission rules. The cost for drivers’ licensing badge has risen by 60 per cent to £384, while any cab manufactured before September 2016 will not be licensed because it would exceed pollution levels set by the council.

This means almost 90 per cent of taxis would be taken off the road, with many drivers saying they cannot afford newer models. Wakefield District Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Association, which represents drivers, criticised the move, saying the council should introduce lower emission levels gradually or risk losing hundreds of drivers. Planned industrial action, which included go-slows through the city to prevent traffic from running freely, have since been postponed, but legal action has started.

Waj Ali, co-chairman of the association (pictured centre) said: “We have issued initial proceedings against the council. It’s cost us a lot of money, more than £10,000 so far and could cost us £60,000. “It’s very, very serious but we are not prepared to back down on this. We’re not going to be pushed around by bully boy tactics.” The council has until March 12 to respond to the legal proceedings.

Bernadette Livesey, Wakefield Council’s city Solicitor, said: “The taxi association has written a letter before action and the council is currently considering its position. The council is pleased that planned action has been postponed.”

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IDFIMH

Someone please tell them they are going to lose.

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IDFIMH

There going to win yeah

you forgot the emoticon

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Isn't it actually September *2015*?

Apparently there's a two year grace period, so essentially any diesel older than 4.5 years will have to be binned in 2020.

Seems harsh, particularly if someone has a slightly younger motor, which it seems they can keep until ten years old. Unless of course policy changes in meantime.

Fife arguably going in other direction. The basic eight year age rule for cars is being extended to 10, but newly tested motors must be less than five years old.

However, executive cars now treated as normal cars - previously they were totally exempt from age rule.

Minibuses and WAVs were also exempt, but now subject to 12 year maximum.

Or at least I think that summarises the main points - read below for the official version:

The following changes were approved to take effect from 1st April 2018. There will be a transition period to 31st March 2019 by which time the recommendations will be fully in place.

1. An age limit of 5 years from the date of first registration has been introduced for all new vehicles being submitted for the issue of taxi/private hire licences (including substitutions). Once the licence has been issued the vehicle can remain licensed until 10/12 years old depending on the class of vehicle as below.

2. The age restriction for saloon cars is extended to 10 years from date of first registration.

3. The saloon car list in the current vehicle approved list has been extended to include all classes of vehicles (Saloon, Hatchback, estate, MPV, 4x4 etc.) other than purpose built vehicles and minibuses.

4. The current exemption from the age restriction for executive vehicles has been removed.

5. The age restriction for purpose built vehicles is now 12 years from date of first registration.

6. The age restriction for WAVs is now 12 years from date of first registration.

7. The age restriction for minibuses is now 12 years from date of first registration.

8. Vehicles will be classed as minibuses if:
a. they have 7 or 8 passenger seats;
b. adult passengers have ready access to all seats; and
c. all passenger seats must be suitable for use by an adult passenger

9. Until 31st March 2019 the fees for new private hire plates have been waived where the vehicle being added is a wheelchair accessible vehicle (conditions apply).

The Service Manager, Fleet Operations, shall have the final decision when determining the suitability of vehicles to be considered as minibuses, purpose built vehicles and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

I think the rules above are about right.

We have nutty councils that allow no age limit, and ones that only allow new vehicles.

So you mob sort of sit in the middle.

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IDFIMH

Why is a Council nutty if it does not have an age limit?

Because people like to breath, and not be run around in old crocks.

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IDFIMH

That huge emissions scandal of recent times were not as you put it " old crocks" the government or Councils did nothing but sit on their hands maybe scratched their heads once or twice but have done nothing to resolve that particular problem.It would appear to have went the normal course when they do not want to act against the money men,sweep it under the carpet.

London black cab trade is a prime example of why you are wrong.

Expecting people to pay £80 from Heathrow to the city centre in a shed with no air con when you can travel in a exec car for far less.

Is that what the so called best in the world should be offering?

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IDFIMH

You cannot tar everyone with the same brush,that is gutter press description of our trade TAXI or private hire.

I'm not, but I am tarring those drivers that run sheds on string.

Alas they are not few and far between.

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IDFIMH

An old crock fitted with the right technology could run cleaner than a new vehicle. I do not understand why everybody is so mesmerised by vehicle age it is the ACTUAL emissions that are the critical factor and the sooner councils,governments and drivers understand that the better

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

But newer cars are cleaner than older cars.

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IDFIMH

Problem is though that you then get a situation like Wakefield where a couple of day's difference between a car's age means that it can be kept for just over four years or ten years, depending on whether it's Euro5 or Euro6 compliant.

An age rule applicable to all would be a lot fairer.

I mean, it's not as if in the grand scheme of things it'll make a lot of difference to the environment anyway. It's arguably more about councillors trying to look as if they're doing something, and the taxi trade is an easy target in that regard.

And if Wakefield is anything like Dundee (say) then it will have become increasingly full of traffic calming measures and huge unnecessary junctions with traffic lights just clogging up the road at all hours of the night where traffic previously flowed freely, even at busy times.