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PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:23 pm 
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Old taxis in Southampton to be replaced

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/177991 ... -replaced/

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Image: Daily Echo

TAXI bosses in Southampton are being asked to upgrade their fleet in a bid to improve air quality – but concerns have been raised over the financial impact the move will have.

All taxis and private hire vehicles in the city which were manufactured before September 2015 and are classed as euro 5 vehicles will have to be swapped for more modern and less polluting vehicles by January 2023.

The decision made by the Licensing Committee on Wednesday is part of Southampton City Council’s strategy to fight air pollution.

At the meeting traders told civic chiefs that while they want to help improving air quality across the city, they wanted more reassurance on the financial support they will receive and asked for the decision to be deferred.

Civic chiefs did not defer the decision but said the city council will receive more than £160,000 from central government to support the move.

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Perry McMillan, Unite the Union (Image: Daily Echo)

Perry McMillan, from Unite the Union, said: “Drivers are going to spend a lot of money on changing their vehicles and because of that we think this decision is to be deferred. We are talking about drivers having to spend a lot of money in very difficult economic times.”

He said to upgrade a euro 5 car costs between £12,000 and £15,000 while an electric car costs about £33,000.

He also said about 50 vehicles in Southampton will be affected by this move.

According to the council, euro 5 emission standard diesel vehicles will be phased out during 2022 and from 2020 no new or replacement vehicle that is euro 5 diesel emission standard will be issued a licence.

Taxi bosses also stressed the importance of having rapid chargers for electric vehicles to be installed across the city as soon as possible.

The authority said they will be installed in summer 2019.

Cllr Sue Blatchford, chairman of the Licensing Committee, said taxi companies can apply for grants and added: “I’m sure the council will assist the drivers as much as they can with the budget available.”

After the meeting, councillor Steve Leggett, cabinet member for green city and environment, added: “The need to take urgent, strong action against air pollution is essential. The new licensing conditions are part of a larger, ongoing plan linked to our Green City Charter. We know people living, working and visiting Southampton share our commitment to improving air quality and reducing pollution across the city.”


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PostPosted: Sat Jul 27, 2019 8:27 pm 
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Quote:
All taxis and private hire vehicles in the city which were manufactured before September 2015 and are classed as euro 5 vehicles will have to be swapped for more modern and less polluting vehicles by January 2023.


So if you've got an early 2014 saloon like me that just missed the Euro 6 classification then it will have to be replaced before January 2023? To be honest it doesn't seem the most stringent requirement, although it's just a tad unfair that a vehicle a few months younger can continue to be used for several more years, presumably.

Might be a bit different for TXs etc, but not sure what the position with them is in Southampton (or whether there are any), and the article certainly doesn't make the distinction between saloons and purpose built cabs.


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PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:52 am 
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Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
I have a 15 plate vehicle which is euro 5 :wink:

Euro 5 and 6 vehicles were sold alongside one another for 2 to 3 years as manufacturers struggled to get euro 6 vehicles out

the biggest problem is that euro 6 engines have half the life of euro 5 so drivers will find themselves having to replace engines after a few years

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PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 7:28 am 
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Where will the £160,000 go? Straight into the coffers of the council that's where.


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PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:33 pm 
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Nidge2 wrote:
Where will the £160,000 go? Straight into the coffers of the council that's where.

That was the first thing I thought of.

If it goes to the 50 cars that this policy effects then that's £3,000 a motor. For what exactly?

Euro 6 only applies to diesel, and more and more cars are moving to petrol. So the big hoo ha is basically a load of old fanny.

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PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:58 pm 
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Sussex wrote:
If it goes to the 50 cars that this policy effects then that's £3,000 a motor. For what exactly?


Which would hardly be fair - basically rewards people who run older cars, and indeed incentives them to keep hold of them so that they can cop £3k because they run a banger?

And according to the last DfT figures there are almost 1,000 vehicles in Southampton (283 HCVs, 695 PHVs), so looks like just a small minority would be affected, so why should they end up getting the cash?

However, according to the figures 70 of the HCVs are WAVs, so 213 are saloons, presumably. So if the 70 are forced to run WAVs they might be more deserving of help, but the article doesn't make the distinction.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 7:39 pm 
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Our council has just told that they propose to charge us £10 per day to enter the city centre All to make us get electric,hydrogen or LPG by 2021,no diesel.In the same letter they say that buses,coaches and HGV can enter the city centre using electric ,hydrogen,LPG and 'new cleaner diesel (euro 6?)'. So it's one rule for them and another one for us!.


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