Clean Air Zone boss issues health warning to go-slow cabbieshttps://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/m ... s-16184304Taxi drivers are three times more likely to suffer from air pollution than the average person, claims Cllr Waseem Zaffar
Image: Birmingham MailBirmingham's Clean Air Zone boss has urged taxi drivers to stop 'punishing' the public with go-slow protests - arguing their health is being harmed by pollution more than most.
As black cab drivers geared up for their latest demonstration over fears the new charge will force many of them off the road in 2020, Cllr Waseem Zaffar, the city council's transport and environment chief, spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the latest high-profile dispute to inflict the authority.
The Labour councillor for Lozells stressed he knows where the drivers are coming from.
He has formerly represented the trade as a union official and states he has many friends and family members who make a living driving Brummies from A to B.
Image: Birmingham MailBut Cllr Zaffar also has a personal reason why he is determined to meet Government demands to reduce pollution levels in the city.
He said: "We've got to remember we've got a public health crisis.
"Nearly 900 people a year in Birmingham are dying prematurely because of pollution.
"I'm sure a lot of taxi drivers aren't aware they are three times more likely to be affected by poor air pollution than the average person.
"It is as much about their health as it is about anybody else's.
"As somebody whose dad was a taxi driver who died at the age of 54, I sometimes wonder about the impact that air pollution had on him when he was working as a driver in the city, the detrimental impact on his health and ultimately his untimely demise."
Cllr Zaffar is keen to point out that black cab and private hire drivers have not been ignored in the preparations for the Clean Air Zone.
The council now lets Hackney carriage drivers obtain a dual badge.
This means they can also work as private hire drivers who will find it far cheaper to pick up a compliant used petrol car than forking out more than £50k on a brand new eco-friendly black cab.
But most significantly he points out that the drivers are to benefit from £15m worth of support measures, which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the £38m the Government has awarded the council to implement the Clean Air Zone.
Among the proposals, drivers will be eligible for financial grants towards the cost of converting or replacing their cars.
Cllr Zaffar said: "We've worked incredibly hard on their behalf to get a very, very good scheme.
"I thought there would be a lot more appreciation of the fact that we have secured £15m for the taxi community to support them through this transitional process."
Image: Birmingham MailThe council approved a new emissions policy for black cab and private hire drivers earlier this month.
Essentially it means they will not have to meet the Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 6 (diesel) standards the same as everyone else entering the Clean Air Zone.
Instead their vehicles have been given revised age limits - 15 years for Hackney carriages and 12 years for private hire vehicles.
But from January 1, 2021 any newly licensed vehicle must be classed as ultra low emission. The date has been brought forward from 2026 to the dismay of taxi drivers.
Exceptional condition tests, which had allowed vehicles to operate longer than the previous age limits, are to be scrapped unless the vehicle has gone through a Government-approved LPG conversion scheme to make it cleaner.
The council made a number of changes to the emissions policy following consultation with drivers, although the proposals still mean hundreds of cabbies will have to convert or replace their car if they are to avoid the £8 daily charge.
The authority has also stopped short of meeting all the drivers' demands, which include an exemption from the Clean Air Zone charge, more money towards conversion or replacing cars as well as reverting back to the 2026 date for newly licensed vehicles.
In response the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced two weeks of go-slow protests, which started on Tuesday, April 23 with around 80 drivers taking part.
The protest brought Pagoda roundabout in the city centre to a standstill during the morning rush hours.
Image: Birmingham MailThe union is hoping for further talks and negotiation but Cllr Zaffar said the council cannot deviate away from the full business case for the Clean Air Zone, which has now been approved by the Government.
He added: "Drivers offer a hugely valuable service.
"They are usually the first people that visitors in the city meet, they are selling our city at a time we're about to host the Commonwealth Games (2022).
"We'll get thousands and thousands of visitors to our city and we want our taxi community to welcome them with good quality cars and offer a brilliant service.
"We have in the region of 5,000 licensed drivers in Birmingham.
"I've spoken to many who think we've secured a very good package and amended the policy to get it to a far better place.
"Ultimately it is a very small proportion of drivers demonstrating.
"I'd advise them this isn't about punishing the public.
"The commuters are being unreasonably affected by the go-slow protests and it shouldn't be the case that they suffer.
"I hope the RMT cease this action so we can get on with the job in hand of preparing their drivers, their members and the wider city and region for the implementation of the Clean Air Zone."
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