Up to 2,000 taxis in Birmingham are set to fall foul of new rules to be brought in from December as part of the council’s plans to tackle toxic air pollution.
Birmingham is one of five UK cities, in addition to London, required to bring in a Clean Air Zone by 2020 and the city council is proposing to bring in increasingly tough criteria for taxis and private hire cars.
But according to the BBC, the council has met with resistance from drivers who say the plans, which will be subject to public consultation, threaten their livelihoods.
Under the plans, from December 2017 the council would only renew licences for hackney carriages that meet the Euro 3 standard.
A report to councillors states that this would remove from the road an estimated 530 vehicles.
The council is also proposing that by December 2017 it would only renew licences for private hire vehicles that meet the Euro 4 standard for petrol driven private hire vehicles or Euro 5 for diesel powered private hire vehicles or are Ultra Low Emission Vehicles.
The report notes that while this is a higher standard than the Euro 3 standard for hackney carriage vehicles, it affects a smaller percentage of the private hire fleet.
The effect of this proposal would be to remove from the fleet an estimated 1,428 vehicles.
From December 2018 any replacement for a licensed vehicle would have to meet the Euro 6 standard or be Ultra Low Emission for all hackney carriages while all private hire vehicles would have to be Ultra Low Emission.
The report notes that none of the hackney carriage vehicles that are currently licensed would be able to retain their licences beyond this date, apart from any that have converted to Liquid Petroleum Gas through a Government-funded scheme.
Transport Network approached Birmingham for comment.
The council told the BBC: 'The city has a very old fleet of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles so we need to look at how we can solve this issue to the benefit of all.
'We will do everything we can to shape the market for cleaner vehicles and assist drivers.'
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
