Taxi Driver Online

Glasgow MSP pleads with Scottish Government to intervene and save the Glasgow taxi trade before ‘black cab blackout’

https://www.glasgowworld.com/news/pam-d ... ez-3982105

The Labour MSP has petitioned the Scottish Government to intervene and save the Glasgow Taxi Trade

Glasgow Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy has asked the Scottish Government to step in to avoid a black cab blackout and save Glasgow’s taxi trade.

The petitioning follows Glasgow Taxi’s claim that public taxi services in the city could come to an end in 2023 without urgent intervention. Unite the Union estimate that 40 per cent of Glasgow Taxi Drivers have left the industry following the pandemic, and that hundreds more are expected to follow because of the Low-Emission Zone roll out.

New rules set to come into force on June 1 - and will require vehicles to meet low emission standards or face a penalty charge for driving in the city centre. Transport Scotland are operating a Low Emissions Support Fund to help with the costs of retrofitting vehicles, but Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP has told the parliament that available grants are not sufficient to cover the costs of these adaptations, and that a lack of supply of new vehicles has left drivers fearing for their jobs.

Glasgow City Council have written to the Scottish Government to request additional funding to support drivers but have yet to receive a response. Glasgow is the only council in Scotland still set to push ahead with its pre-pandemic 2023 introduction date for low-emission zones, with all other councils implementing a delay.

Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP said:“The industry was hit hard by the pandemic, and it’s now being squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis.

“Drivers have seen their incomes dry up, forcing many to leave the industry altogether and a lack of affordable new vehicles alongside the high costs of retrofitting older vehicles to be low-emission compliant has led to no new drivers entering the trade.

“Across the city, taxi drivers are finding themselves unable to access loans due to interest costs, and the grants currently available are just not enough to cover the costs of retrofitting.

Glasgow Taxis have already warned that its fleet could be wiped out this year if there is not urgent intervention.

The MSP continued:“Just last month GCC passed the ‘Get me home safely’ motion calling on safe and affordable transport home from work for those finishing after 11pm, yet the current strains on the taxi industry are going to make doing so even harder, particularly for women.

“Glasgow Taxis is also the only fully accessible fleet in the city, its loss of drivers is making it harder for disabled people to get out and about in the city.

“The SNP must listen to Glasgow’s taxi drivers, disabled people, women, and it’s councillors, recognise the threat that inaction is placing on the taxi industry and take immediate action either to support drivers with additional funding, or ask the council to review the expected introduction date of low emission zones.

“If it does not do so it will not only be letting the industry down, but it will be restricting the liberty of disabled people, putting woman in danger by allowing black cabs to disappear from Glasgow’s city streets and doing taxi drivers out of their career.”

Is it really fair to have a pop at the SNP government when it's the SNP council that has adopted this policy?

The problem isn't going to go away until those councillors can work out a way to enable drivers to find £65,000 to buy a new motor.

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IDFIMH

Pretty unlikely that Nicola Sturgeon isn't aware of this, and if Nicola Sturgeon wanted it delayed or watered down, then it would be delayed and watered down

It's an SNP/Green coalition in the Scottish Parliament, and it's an SNP/Green vote that's implementing the LEZ in Glasgow.

Anyway, for a change this article is about the impact of LEZ on the PH sector. Not particularly illuminating, and all eminently predictable, but obviously the impact on the PH side hasn't been highlighted so much. But, of course, the impact won't be as significant as it will be on the HC side


Glasgow private hire drivers "forced into debt" to meet new Low Emission Zone rules

https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/n ... one-rules/

A new law to reduce air pollution in the city centre comes into force in June.

Private hire drivers in Glasgow are warning there could be even fewer taxis on the road when the city's Low Emission Zone comes into force in June.

A rule change means the heaviest polluting petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned from coming into the centre to try to make the air cleaner.

It states that vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006 will be slapped with a £60 fine if they enter the Low Emission Zone.

Asiem Ahmad drives a 2014 plate diesel Vauxhall Zafira and claims he could be forced into debt buying a newer car just to keep his job.

He told Clyde 1: "My car has passed its MOT with flying colours over the last 7 years as well as passing the council's MOT.

"I will have to find tens of thousands of pounds to get a new car just to be able to keep working and I am also worried it may affect my mortgage application because I am trying to buy a bigger house for my family.

"The second hand car market is still pretty expensive and I've been looking for 4 months now.

"I will have to take a business loan out or get this new car on finance, unfortunately.

"This really feels like another tax on drivers."

Neil Schofield recently spent thousands of pounds upgrading to a hybrid vehicle to ensure he can continue to ferry passengers around the city.

He claims many other drivers cannot afford to do the same.

"I had no choice except to purchase a new car as I really need it for my livelihood.

"The cost was far more than what I paid for my previous car and if it had not been for the dealership when I bought it then I probably would not have been aware of what the LEZ entailed.

"I really think Glasgow City need to communicate with the public about what this LEZ means for them.

"Popping signs up around the centre is all well and good, but they have a duty to help people like me comply."

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “This year is a key milestone in our work to reduce levels of air pollution, with the full roll-out of our Low Emission Zone to include all vehicles to maximise the air quality benefits it can deliver.

“Whilst we understand that this has been a challenging time for the trade which is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, this public health policy is an essential measure if Glasgow is to tackle the harmful air pollution that has dogged parts of the city centre for decades.

“Financial support for private hire drivers is also available from Transport Scotland subject to eligibility.

"This includes vehicle disposal grants, and interest-free loans for the purpose of purchasing an electric vehicle for use as a private hire car, although it should be stressed that an electric vehicle is not a mandatory requirement for entry into Glasgow’s LEZ.

"It is also possible to replace a non-compliant private hire vehicle with one which meets LEZ emission standards, whether the vehicle is new or second hand, subject to the Licensing Authority’s requirements for replacing a licensed private hire car."

Thanks for that insight

And very charitable of the council to allow the trade to upgrade their cars to meet the tighter emissions spec

And, on a wider political point, Nicola Sturgeon and Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken are up to their necks on this kind of stuff, like grown up domestic versions of Greta Thunberg



Of course, COP26 was held in Glasgow, and both Sturgeon and Aitken jetted off to COP27

And it's likely that this environmental kind of stuff will be instrumental as regards Nicola Sturgeon's next job, presumably some kind of UN post or similar, so the Glasgow LEZ kind of thing will be a useful footnote on her CV

For example, she wrote this recent article on how we should be rowing back from North Sea Oil etc, which in itself is causing a split in her party. But in the grand scheme off all this kind of stuff, the Glasgow HC is obviously expendable

And, of course, it's a great opportunity for us all anyway. 'Just transition', and all that



Readable, high-res version here:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmK5EaxXgAQ ... =4096x4096

Heaven forbid.

Having to take out a business loan to finance your business.

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IDFIMH

a car that HAS to be replaced this year under the 8 year rule for private hire,so a load of keech ,so lets embellish my woes and try for the sympathy card,be glad your not a real taxi driver or youd need to buy a vehicle 3 times the price of your zafira,fud

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i started out with nothing and ive still got most of it left

Shouldnt bother...the SNP can't see any further than their own political agenda.

Blimey I thought you said gender then, not agenda.

And gender is no longer allowed in Scotland, so I'm told.

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IDFIMH

These politicians are only kidding themselves on, the other 99% of us will ignore their Gender changing Buffoonery Bill completely.

No parent is going to accept some hairy arsed baboon who up until yesterday was called Joe and who stood up to pee sharing the Ladies toilets with their wee girl just because today Joe changed his mind and decided he'd prefer to pee sitting down under his/her/its new name of "Josephine".

So, Bloodnock, presumably you're not a fan of Mhairi Black MP

Naw.....her splash back would corrode my.shoes.