Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies to strike as Bradford braces for major disruption

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... isruption/

MAJOR disruption is anticipated as around 1,000 drivers are expected to take part in a taxi strike in Bradford from 6am to 6pm tomorrow.

The Bradford Taxi Action Group (BTAG), who represent drivers across the Bradford district, are unhappy that Bradford Council is set to introduce a Clean Air Zone in January, which could see drivers having to pay £12.50 a day unless they have a compliant vehicle.

In a letter to Bradford Council, Asif Shah, chairman of The Bradford Taxi Action Group (BTAG), wrote: "Please be advised that BTAG has called for a taxi strike amongst members on Thursday, May 13, 2021 between 6am to 6pm.

"We anticipate a minimum of 1,000 drivers to take part in this strike. Operators have been advised to make arrangements to manage this disruption amongst their customers.

"BTAG is now demanding that the council alters its policy on allowing Euro 6 diesel compliance amongst the private hire sector.

"Hackney carriages have been allowed this exemption but not private hire. This is a discriminatory act against private hire drivers."

Mr Shah added: "We're saying to our drivers don't go work on Thursday.

"This is going to be very disruptive to the public and is not something we've seen in Bradford in a long time.

"We'd just want it highlighted to let people know not to expect taxis on Thursdays.

"Also, please let as many elderly people know as possible. We don't want them walking to the supermarket and then not being able to get a taxi home."

Bradford Council, however, has said they must comply with the Government Clean Air Zone directive.

A spokesperson for Bradford Council said: “Bradford Council has been directed to improve the air quality across the district by the Government and we cannot go against this directive.

“We cannot meet the air quality targets set by Government if our Private Hire vehicles continue to use diesel engines. These emit more of the Nitrogen Oxide gases which Government have told us we have to eliminate. Petrol hybrid or electric cars are much better."

However, Mr Shah says that 70 per cent of cars in taxi fleets have diesel engines, and he said that introducing a Clean Air Zone in January leaves a very short time frame for drivers to change to a hybrid car.

"It's unimaginable to expect 2,000 to 3,000 drivers to buy a hybrid car by January," said Mr Shah.

The council spokesperson added: “The only exception Government has allowed is for wheelchair accessible vehicles due to the lack of availability of alternative technologies and the low number of vehicles in our district."

The council also confirmed that exemptions applied to hackney carriage vehicles are no different to those of the private hire trade.

“We work well with recognised taxi trade organisations and have secured grants for our private hire cars that are 60 per cent higher than for other local authorities who have to create Clean Air Zones.

“We value the district’s taxi trade as an important part of our public transport service and will continue to support them as they play an important role in meeting the challenge set by Government.”

This is an extract from a follow up article:


TAXI firms in Bradford are reassuring customers about the taxi strike which is taking place from 6am to 6pm tomorrow.

The strike has been organised by the Bradford Taxi Action Group (BTAG), who is encouraging its members to take part.

However, the T&A has been contacted by some taxi operators to confirm that not all taxi firms will be on strike.

One said that 99 per cent of taxi firms in Bradford are not striking and would be open.

Also this from Bradford City Council:



Well thanks for clearing that up

Er, it's not the 'taxi firms' who are organising the strike, so doubt if they're planning to close.

So much for the 'workers united'.

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IDFIMH

Do people actually ever read what they write?

The above makes no sense whatsoever.

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IDFIMH

another article on the same story

TAXI and private hire drivers in Bradford have called on the council to look again at “harsh” plans to introduce a clean air charging zone in the city centre.

The zone, known as the Clean Air Zone, is due to be introduced in Bradford city centre, the Canal Road corridor and parts of Shipley early next year – and has already been approved by the council’s decision-making executive board.

It will see some of the most polluting commercial vehicles charged a daily fee to enter the zone. This fee will be up to £50 for HGVs, while taxis and private hire vehicles that have engines not meeting the CAZ requirements will be charged £12.50 a day to enter the zone.

The Government will provide £10m worth of grants to taxi drivers to upgrade their vehicles – with private hire drivers able to receive up to £3,200 and Hackney Carriage up to £4,000.
The CAZ is an attempt to bring down Bradford’s illegal air pollution levels.

At a meeting of the council’s regulatory and appeals committee this week, representatives from taxi and private hire associations said they were in favour of the clean air zone, but that the proposed rules around which engines were classed as polluting would be unfair to some drivers.
Clean air zone plan hailed as 'momentous' step in improving Bradford's health

Under the proposals, Hackney Carriage drivers would need a minimum of a Euro 6 Diesel or Euro 4 petrol engine to be exempt from the charges. Private hire drivers, however, would need a minimum Euro 5 or 6 petrol hybrid engine to avoid the £12.50 fee.

Private hire representatives are concerned this may price some drivers out of the industry, as it means they would have to purchase expensive new vehicles they could ill-afford.
Nadim Ahmed from the Private Hire Operator’s Association said: “The issue is the type of vehicles which the council is going to bring in.

“The private hire side is being restricted – it is unfair to discriminate one side of the trade from the other, when they are doing the same job. Euro 6 (diesel) vehicles are very clean – they cause minimal pollution and have been approved by the EU and UK governments.

“I work in Cullingworth – our fares are already £14 to come to Bradford – it would increase it to £26.50.
“People won’t come into Bradford for £26.50, and back out again for the same amount.
“Give the trade some leeway – allow Euro 6 vehicles across the board. Businesses have had a tough time.”

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