Makes a change to see a council relaxing livery requirements, but check out the nick of the council logo
Coat of arms requirement could be removed from taxis amid green drive
https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/2 ... een-drive/
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The Royal Borough coat of arms could soon no longer be required on taxis in a bid to encourage a move to hybrid and electric vehicles.
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (RBWM) licensing panel is set to consider proposals to consult with hackney carriage drivers about removing the existing mandates on colour and decoration for hybrid and electric taxis.
All new taxis in Windsor and Maidenhead have been required to be white and feature a purple bonnet and boot along with the coat of arms – known as livery – since 2012.
However, a council officers’ report notes this has long been unpopular with drivers due to associated costs.
The report reads: “The livery also gives RBWM licenced hackney carriages a unique appearance in comparison with traditional black taxis, makes them readily identifiable to residents and visitors to RBWM who may not be familiar with the differences between hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, and provides a smart and uniform appearance.
“The livery has always been unpopular with drivers mainly because of the costs of having it applied and because, the drivers say, the livery reduces the amount of private work that they can get because potential clients might be put off by the livery.”
Officers noted the need to move taxis and private hire vehicles away from fossil fuels and towards electric and hybrid for “environmental and reputational purposes” as well as the looming 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
The report floated the possibility of amending council policy to change or remove the livery requirement for hybrid and electric taxis as an incentive to make the shift to greener vehicles.
The recommended option for councillors is to conduct research into the availability and cost of electric and hybrid hackney carriages while also consulting with drivers around changes to the livery policy.
The report reads: “The research and consultation will provide evidence on which the Licensing Panel will be able to make informed decisions about any potential changes to the livery on RBWM licenced hackney carriages if drivers move to electric or hybrid vehicles.
“This will also provide evidence to support decision making in respect of longer term moves away from fossil fuelled hackney carriages to electric or hybrid vehicles.”
It will be considered by councillors at the licensing panel meeting on Monday, October 16.
