Taxi Driver Online

Age limit on taxis in South Tyneside to be discussed in bid to tackle climate change

https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/env ... ge-1555677


Image: Shields Gazette

Council chiefs are set to hold talks with taxi drivers over proposed changes to fleets in a bid to improve air quality in the borough.

A proposed change to licensing policy, which would mean vehicles entering the taxi trade could be no more than four years old, will be considered by the council’s cabinet next week.

They will be asked to give the go ahead to begin consultation about the introduction of an age restriction policy which would help cut emissions and promote a cleaner fleet.

The policy comes as part of a drive towards a regional emissions standard for taxis and private hire vehicles, which the 12 North East local authorities agreed should be pursued in 2018.

If adopted, the ‘Euro 6’ standard would apply from July 1, 2020 – meaning that any new vehicle wanting to enter the taxi trade could be no more than four years old and from July 1, 2023, existing vehicles could be a maximum of eight years old.

Fully electric and zero emission vehicles would be exempt.

Last year South Tyneside council declared a climate emergency and pledged to take all necessary steps to become carbon neutral by 2030, including producing a climate change strategy, supported by a five-year action plan, by March 31, 2020.

Coun Mark Walsh, lead member for housing and transport, said: “The introduction of these changes would help us move towards our goal of a carbon neutral future as well as having a significant impact on air quality and improving public health.

“Taxis are an important part of the transport mix in the borough and it’s important that we get the trade’s views on this. No decisions have been made and we’re keen for them to engage in the consultation and tell us what they think.

“This is about looking to the future and as a council, we are committed to creating a transport network that allows us to travel in a healthy, efficient and sustainable way.”

If given the go ahead, changes to the council’s existing tint policy, which specifies the minimum amount of light transmittance permitted through windows of taxis, will also be considered.

Just leave things as they are.

In time all cars die and need replacing.

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IDFIMH

You say that, but I had a Peugeot 406 estate that was on it's second engine and close to 600k miles. People can and will keep anything on the road rather than paying out for a new one.

I would think within the next 12 months just about every council in the UK except probably Rutland will require euro 6 as a minimum but I have a feeling that UK gov is going to require all taxis to become electric within ten years

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

Their OTT pursuit of a climate change answer is going to destroy more than half of the UK's economy simply because it is not possible to make a profit as a result of over zealous regulations being put in place at all levels, but especially on the nations SME's.

why the feck should we be endure thes crippling demands when the majority of the world ticks over uninhibated by such over regulation.

We are all being force fed climate change which is backed up by convenient snippets from the environmentalists, politicians swallow it all as fact without first checking it out for themselves............yet nobody is coming up with hard facts or solid projections of what climate change actually is or isnt.

They are trying to paint a picture to suit their beliefs an then enforce it on all of us.

Welcome back to the stone age.

I would say more like we are being forced to accelerate into the future hoping the rest of the world will follow

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

Maybe, but the economic advantage they will get from letting us do these things first and them doing it fifteen years later as technology allows will see them increase their more competitive export sales as we find ourselves outpriced.

we have simply become over regulated to the point of being uncompetitive, whether it be on evirionmental, mininmum wages or employee protection...china, india and all will exploit our liberal ways to their own advantage.

North Tyneside now

Taxi licensing shake-up set to be signed off by North Tyneside Council

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... t-17777607

The council says the proposals will encourage environmental sustainability

Would-be taxi drivers could have to scrap ageing vehicles and face up to mandatory criminal record checks as a proposed licensing shake-up is set to be given the green-light.

If the proposals are approved, from April 2021 no new licences would be granted in North Tyneside for vehicles more than four years old.

Meanwhile, existing licences will require a vehicle less than eight years old for any future renewals.

Electric and zero-emission vehicles will be exempt from these age standards.

Other key changes would see the introduction of online applications and mandatory sign ups to the DBS update service.

The authority currently licenses around 183 taxis, 1030 Private Hire Vehicles, 1097 drivers and 23 operators in the borough.

North Tyneside Council says the proposals aim to ensure the safety and welfare of the public, encourage environmental sustainability and ensure efficient taxi and private hire services in the borough.

Coun Carole Burdis, cabinet member with responsibility for community safety and engagement, said: “We are committed to ensuring that, here in North Tyneside, we have taxis and private hire cars that work well for our residents, businesses and our local environment.

“These plans allow us to ensure the safety and welfare of our residents who use taxis, while also supporting our commitment to maintaining a healthy environment in North Tyneside.”

Following an eight-week consultation where almost 100 local drivers, residents and businesses shared their views on the revised policy, the plans are expected to be approved by cabinet on Monday.

This comes after North Tyneside Council voted to join Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead and Sunderland in declaring a climate emergency in July.

The authority is currently pressing on with its commitment to half its carbon footprint by 2027 and aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Presumably it didn't dawn on whoever wrote this piece that there are a lot more vehicles licensed than drivers

But presumably the 1,097 drivers is PHDs and this doesn't include HCDs (or maybe dual badges).

B&H have been doing this for few years now.

Dead easy for the council to check as often as they want.

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IDFIMH

Back to South Tyneside, and this is more about vehicle spec other than the green stuff.

But the colour code in particular looks like someone doing something just to make it look like they're doing something. Anything.

Not that I'm against colour codes in principle, but brightly coloured bonnets, daft colours like Hartlepool and Guildford, definitely not

Nothing particularly exciting here, though, but a great line about the tints


Colour-coded taxis considered for South Tyneside - plus plans to make them cleaner and greener

https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/pol ... er-1885238

Council chiefs are to consult on plans for colour-coded taxis in South Tyneside as part of a shake-up of rules governing cabbies in the borough.

Other authorities operate a “colour policy” whereby taxis must all be sprayed a certain shade, such as Hartlepool, where Hackney carriages must be yellow, and Manchester where private hire vehicles must be silver or white.

Councils which operate colour policies say it helps identify which vehicles are licensed taxis, and promotes a “local image”.

A report prepared for councillors on South Tyneside Councils ruling cabinet reads: “Colour policies do exist in some but not all neighbouring authorities and are introduced to help with easy identification of licensed vehicles and promote a positive local image.

“There is no intelligence to suggest that there is a problem with misidentified taxis in [South Tyneside] however consideration of a colour policy does merit further investigation with the trade and service users.”

The question of colour is part of a wider consultation on the future of taxi services in the borough, with proposals for a shake-up of licensing rules for taxis and hackney carriages.

A key part is an aim to make vehicles used by licensed drivers cleaner and greener, as part of efforts to face up to climate change.

If approved following consultation, any vehicles entering the trade could be no more than four years old.

The age-restriction policy aims to improve air quality and promote a healthier fleet in line with regional emissions targets.

It also forms part of the council’s drive to become carbon-neutral by 2030 following a ‘climate emergency’ declaration in 2019.

Lead Member for Housing and Transport, Coun Mark Walsh, outlined the plans to cabinet on Wednesday February 19.

This includes changes to the council’s ‘tint policy’ for new taxis by reducing the minimum amount of light transmitted through taxi windows from 35% to 25%.

According to cabinet papers, tinted windows can “increase fuel economy and reduce emissions” by reducing the need for air conditioning systems.

Coun Walsh told the meeting that licensing changes would “improve air quality and public health in the borough.”

He added: “It’s important to hear the views of the taxi trade as a key part of this before any final decision is taken.”

Following discussion, cabinet gave the go-ahead to a four-week consultation with all licensed taxi drivers in the borough.

If approved, the ‘Euro 6’ standard would apply to new vehicle licences from July 1, 2020

It would also mean that from July 1, 2023, existing licensed vehicles could be a maximum of eight years old.

However, fully electric and zero-emissions vehicles would be exempt from the policy.

In recent years, the council has brought forward several schemes to reduce the impact on the environment including increased use of renewable technologies.

According to the authority, works have helped reduce carbon emissions by around 48% since 2014/15, with more schemes planned.

Priorities include boosting electric vehicle use, LED street lighting, flood prevention, improved public transport, road works to reduce journey times and emissions and improved tree canopy coverage.

Oh, yes, decreasing the tint spec in South Shields will make a big difference. 'Climate emergency' solved.

Let's get wee Greta in to make a speech

And all the extra work needed to respray the car, and then despray it when the car is no longer a cab, will help out global emissions no end.

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IDFIMH

Sometimes you want to but really you just need to

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IDFIMH