Quote:
But Mr. Gregory added that drivers just wanted “parity” across the fleet - whether that meant rounding the maximum ages up or down.
Bet the troops are delighted he said that.
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| South Ribble age increase in doubt due to air quality impact http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33264 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Thu Sep 13, 2018 6:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | South Ribble age increase in doubt due to air quality impact |
Older taxis could be taken off the road in South Ribble https://www.lep.co.uk/news/older-taxis- ... -1-9346664 The age at which taxis have to leave the roads of South Ribble could be about to be lowered - in spite of the fact that the borough council has only just consulted on an increase. Concerns over air pollution prompted the sudden change in direction, with one councillor saying the authority had been made to look “silly”. The district’s licensing committee met to discuss a report into whether the maximum age of different types of vehicle should be equalised. Currently, saloon cars can trade as taxis for up to eight years - but larger, wheelchair-accessible motors can operate for as long as twelve. A special working group of councillors had recommended rounding up the legal age of saloon vehicles - and a consultation on the plan drew broad support from the public and taxi drivers. But a last-minute intervention by the council’s own environmental health team prompted a rethink, because of the potential impact on air quality in the borough. One of the department’s officers, who declined to be identified, told members that the proposed change would “go against the aims of our own current and draft air quality plans, where we are looking at increasing low emission vehicles in the taxi fleet”. Committee member Ken Jones said councillors should have been presented with the environmental information at the start of the process. “My message to officers would be ‘please talk to each other’ before making us all look silly,” he said. “But in the interests of natural justice, I don’t feel we can go back on a consultation exercise which resulted in agreement. It’s not fair and could be open to [legal] challenge,” Cllr Jones added. He then requested that the age increase be accepted for now, with a pledge to reduce it in three years. Cllr Paul Wharton also expressed his dismay that new information had been brought to the committee at a late stage - and he said the decision should be delayed as a result. “I’m not sure how helpful this document is. Could we defer the report and potentially [undertake] a new consultation to get all the evidence in front of us?” Cllr Wharton asked. An independent hackney driver in the borough, John Gregory, told the committee he felt taxi drivers were being “penalised for serving the public”. “There are no age restrictions on buses or council vehicles. A refuse truck might not cover many miles in a day, but it [barely] switches its engine off. But for 70 percent of a taxi’s working day, the engine is turned off and we’re not polluting at all.” But Mr. Gregory added that drivers just wanted “parity” across the fleet - whether that meant rounding the maximum ages up or down. Tempers frayed at one point as Cllrs Jones and Wharton clashed over how to proceed, with Cllr Jones having to apologise for “intemperate language”. Meanwhile, committee chair, David Suthers, bemoaned the time which had elapsed since the issue was first raised last year. “It’s like a hot chestnut which keeps going round and round,” he said. “We’re all very aware of air pollution,” he said. “We’re aware, but what are we doing about it?” asked the former cabinet member for public health, Cllr Jacqueline Mort. South Ribble has established five Air Quality Management Areas - parts of the borough where there is particular concern about levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. On the casting vote of the chair, a proposal to defer the decision was delayed. The committee then voted by a majority of five to three to “note” the consultation response about increasing the maximum age - but immediately launch a further consultation on whether it should instead be lowered. That decision will be taken by the full council at a later date. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Thu Sep 13, 2018 8:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: South Ribble age increase in doubt due to air quality im |
Quote: But Mr. Gregory added that drivers just wanted “parity” across the fleet - whether that meant rounding the maximum ages up or down. Bet the troops are delighted he said that.
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| Author: | bloodnock [ Fri Sep 14, 2018 8:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: South Ribble age increase in doubt due to air quality im |
Why does it have to be Either 8 or 12 years for parity..maybe the middle road of 10 years might soothe the problem. Besides if a Vehicle is well maintained and meets the emissions levels as set out in the MOT then wheres the problem, Ive seen clapped out smokey cars at years and Immaculate Smoke free cars at over 10 years of age, would they put in a similar age limit on drivers..ban the healthy 70 year old whilst keeping a 30 year old human wreck driving? |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Sat Sep 15, 2018 3:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: South Ribble age increase in doubt due to air quality im |
I've always thought that an emissions standard might be fairer than an age limit after all they have the equipment at MOT test stations |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: South Ribble age increase in doubt due to air quality im |
edders23 wrote: I've always thought that an emissions standard might be fairer than an age limit after all they have the equipment at MOT test stations It's fairer by far. Once I was a fan of age limits only, but now I think emissions should be the priority. |
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| Author: | heathcote [ Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: South Ribble age increase in doubt due to air quality im |
Sussex wrote: edders23 wrote: I've always thought that an emissions standard might be fairer than an age limit after all they have the equipment at MOT test stations It's fairer by far. Once I was a fan of age limits only, but now I think emissions should be the priority. Only fairer if the vehicle manufacturers are honest citizens which up to now is not the case. remember the most recent fiasco,it has not been resolved or is it being swept under the carpet. Do not agree with age limits as a well maintained older vehicle which passes the required tests to be licensed is as safe as a brand new car(know of a vehicle straight from the manufacturer that failed its initial test to be licensed) |
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