08/06/2022
🔲 BAN ON POLLUTING TAXIS SET TO BE PUSHED BACK BY CANTERBURY COUNCIL AFTER OUTCRY
Plans to phase out "polluting" taxis could be pushed back by Canterbury City Council following an outcry from cabbies fearing for their livelihoods.
KentOnline reports that the local authority wants to phase out diesel and petrol vehicles in the district as it strives towards operating only electric cabs by 2030.
But drivers were particularly concerned by council plans to refuse to license any taxi that failed to meet the latest emission standards - known as Euro 6 - from August this year in the Canterbury district, which includes Whitstable and Herne Bay.
The rules would have affected all Euro 5 vehicles, which are predominantly petrol and diesel cabs registered before 2015.
However, several amendments to the proposals have been set out in a report set to be voted on at a cabinet meeting.
If agreed, existing Euro 5 petrol or diesel vehicles will be licensed until August 1, 2024 - but there will be no new applications granted from August this year.
Euro 6 vehicles will now be licensed until August 1, 2028, and the requirement for the entire fleet to be electric has been pushed back to August 1, 2033.
Cabbie of 24 years Abe Housein, 58, has been a vocal critic of the timetable for the changes, which he previously described as “too scary to think about”.
To replace his eight-seater Fiat Scudo - which is Euro 5 and was registered in 2014 - with a suitable electric equivalent would cost him anywhere between ÂŁ30,000 and ÂŁ100,000.
He says one model he test drove, which retails at ÂŁ73,500, would not even cover the 200 miles he does a day on one charge.
But he has welcomed the council's plan to extend the timescale for the changes.
"It will give drivers a bit more time to get some money together," he said.
"If it does get voted through, 91 drivers’ Euro 5 cars will be saved.
"It would be a great victory for the trade after the two and half years of it being bad.
"We have never said we didn't want it to happen - it was all about the timeframe which is now a sensible one but could maybe swing a bit more in our favour."
Mr Housein still has concerns about the lack of infrastructure to cater for a hike in the number of hybrid and electric cars on the district's streets, specifically relating to charging points.
"You can’t put them up the ranks, can you imagine the eyesore it would be and how many we would need," he added.
"I don’t think the charging points are ready and we have a very long way to go."
There are two charging points at both the Canterbury Lane and St George’s Lane taxi ranks, and another in the Maynard Road car park for private hire vehicles.
And there are currently no plans to install further charging points for taxis or private hire vehicles in 2022/23 as there is "no available funding for this infrastructure, through grants or capital funds", the council report states.
The council officer's recommendation proposes all new vehicle applications must be for at least a plug-in hybrid vehicle from August 1, 2026 - to be licensed for up to seven years.
The report also suggests all new vehicle applications must be for battery electric vehicles from April 1, 2030, to be licensed for up to seven years but extended to ten years subject to annual inspection.
There could also be further adjustments to the timetable if required as an annual review of technology, infrastructure and suitable vehicles is proposed.
A next full review of the taxi and private hire policy is due to take place in 2026.
