Quote:
“If you own two or three taxis you are in trouble.
Let's all have a whip around for the multi plate holders?
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| 1,200 Glasgow HCs need replacing by 2022 for LEZ-compliance http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=33907 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Wed Feb 06, 2019 4:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | 1,200 Glasgow HCs need replacing by 2022 for LEZ-compliance |
Glasgow taxi drivers could be put off the road if cabs don’t meet Low Emission Zone standards https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glas ... t-15786815 The new LEZ could see Glasgow taxi drivers being forced to spend £40,000 replacing their cabs Glasgow taxi drivers could be forced off the road if they have to spend £40,000 each replacing vehicles to meet Low Emission Zone (LEZ) demands. The council has agreed to implement the LEZ in the city centre to all vehicles which means petrol vehicles must have an emissions standard of Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel by December 2022. usses will be affected from December 31 this year. But concerns have been raised by members of Unite the Union Glasgow CAB section who believe these new low emissions vehicles, will force drivers out of their jobs if they can’t get a five-year-loan from the Government or council to pay for them. All taxis have diesel engines and owners can opt for an LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) conversion which would cost around £12,000 to complete. Calum Anderson, chairman of Glasgow CAB section, said: “It is going to cost individual taxi drivers around £40,000 to meet these standards. This is going to be a massive issue for them. “There are 1420 active taxis in Glasgow but only 200 of them are Euro 6. This means around 1200 will have to be replaced within three years. “We can take out a loan from Energy Trust Scotland, which is run by the Scottish Government, over the next five years. “The pot of money is running low and it is unlikely drivers will be successful because of their low earnings. “We have to acquire vehicles which are wheelchair friendly which means taxis cost more than three times the amount of private hire cars. “People are already giving up their jobs because they can’t afford it. There aren’t enough taxi drivers because we are not making a living. “If you own two or three taxis you are in trouble. When it comes to 2022 many will hand their plates back to the council. “We do have a bit of time to get organised. “We can put our vehicles through a LPG conversion which would cost around £12,000 per taxi. This means putting a petrol engine into a diesel taxi. “We have approached the council for funding who said they will contact the Scottish Government but we have not heard back.” His colleague claimed bus companies are receiving grants to meet the criteria. Steven Grant, secretary of Glasgow CAB section, said: “The financial impact on taxi drivers is going to be huge. “We have to buy them ourselves but busses, who will have to meet the criteria before us, are receiving grants to make this possible. “The council should have looked at the impact this will have on taxi drivers before making these decisions. “They don’t care of a driver earns a living. It has no impact on their decision making. If we want to replace our vehicles we will have to do it ourselves and many people won’t be able to afford that.” The Glasgow CAB section have been in touch with the council to request funding for the vehicles. A council spokeswoman said: “Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone is being phased in so that individuals and businesses have time to prepare. “Introduced last December, the vehicle emission standards required of our city centre LEZ only affects local service buses and it won’t be until December 2022 that its scope is widened to include all vehicles. “We have engaged with taxi operators in respect of the LEZ and will of course continue to do so, along with individuals and businesses who might also be affected.” |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Wed Feb 06, 2019 4:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 1,200 Glasgow HCs need replacing by 2022 for LEZ-complia |
Quote: When it comes to 2022 many will hand their plates back to the council. 20 years ago would have read that as an idle threat, but with Uber and private hire generally continuing to make inroads with app-based bookings, and with the hugely onerous nature of LEZ-compliance, wouldn't be surprise if the threat turned out to be real this time. And, compared to Edinburgh, suspect average cab here a bit older than in the capital, making the conversion for the whole fleet all that more difficult. Of course, the whole thing could change by 2022, but all could certainly turn the black cab trade upside down here, not to mention in other UK towns and cities. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Feb 08, 2019 2:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: 1,200 Glasgow HCs need replacing by 2022 for LEZ-complia |
Quote: “If you own two or three taxis you are in trouble. Let's all have a whip around for the multi plate holders?
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