DISASTER FOR GLASGOW NEXT TUESDAY

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Will not be long for Manchester to follow this.

The union which provides a collective voice for the Glasgow Hackney trade is warning that 1,000 taxis could disappear from the streets when Phase 2 of Glasgow's Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) comes into force in June of 2023.

Around 1,000 Hackney cabs - out of a fleet of 1,420 - are currently non-compliant with the emission standards that all petrol and diesel vehicles entering the city centre LEZ will need to meet next year.

Steven Grant, Secretary of Unite Glasgow Cab section, believes the LEZ requirements to be "probably the biggest crisis we've ever faced" and says the expectation on Hackney drivers to renew their cabs to meet the deadline of June of 2023 is "impossible" -especially coming after the covid pandemic - which saw drivers' earnings fall by around 80%.

"So to expect us to start renewing cabs to meet a deadline of June of 2023 is impossible, we just can't do it. Just to put you into then picture about how serious it actually is, we are talking of somewhere in the region of 1,000 cabs out of a fleet of 1,420 that are non-compliant at the moment.

"That could disappear from the streets along with 1,000 jobs at least of the operators that operate those taxis. So yeh it's pretty serious stuff. It actually dwarfs what's went on in McVities in response to that.

www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/1000-glasgow-taxis-could-disappear-23065077

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UPDATE. THe charge started 2 days ago.

Drivers with older vehicles face being fined up to £480 if they enter central Glasgow from Thursday as the city’s new low emissions zone (LEZ) comes into effect.

All vehicles entering the zone now need to meet the less-polluting emission standards or face a penalty charge, which starts at £60 and then doubles with each subsequent breach of the rules.

Phase one of the LEZ – focusing on buses – has been in place since 2018. The second phase will affect drivers of older petrol and diesel cars and vans.

What area does the low emission zone cover?
The LEZ covers area of Glasgow city centre bounded by the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket/High Street to the east.

The motorway itself is not included in the LEZ.


Glasgow City Council has installed signs and road markings at all entry points, and automatic number plate recognition cameras have been installed.

What are the penalties?
The initial penalty charge for non-compliant vehicles is £60 but the fine will be halved to £30 if paid within 14 days.

A scheme surcharge means the penalty charge amount will double with each subsequent breach of the rules in a 90-day period.