Union warns 1000 Glasgow black cab drivers could lose livelihoods over Low Emission Zone plans

Unite Glasgow Cab Section has released a video, warning that if plans to alter the city’s Low Emission Zone in 2023 go ahead, black cab drivers could lose their jobs.

Changes to the scheme, set to be introduced next year, mean polluting vehicles will not be allowed to enter about 200 streets in the city centre. Diesel engine vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol motors registered before 2006 won’t be permitted.

Taxi problems

The union argues that the change is bad for business, tourism, disability, entertainment and hospitality, and could leave more people vulnerable.

It is calling on councillors to make a change so black cabs are exempt from the Low Emission Zone until 2027, giving drivers time to save up and purchase new electric black cabs.

Taxi drivers have lost out on thousands of pounds of income during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the union hopes the exemption could allow drivers to recover from the lack of trade.

What is the union saying?

It states in the video: “Without black cabs, the people who rely on us most will be left with travel problems.

“We don’t want to stop the LEZ. We want an exemption until 2027.”

Watch the full video HERE.

What is Glasgow City Council saying?

A council spokesperson said: “We have already seen improvements to Glasgow’s air quality since the LEZ was introduced in 2018; with a greater number of greener, less polluting, buses now travelling through our city centre and beyond.

“Increasing the scope of Glasgow’s LEZ to include all vehicles by June 2023, is far-reaching but also necessary to ensure that longstanding breaches of air quality objectives are tackled, particularly given the disproportionate health impacts that air pollution has on the most vulnerable.

“There has been extensive engagement with the taxi trade since Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone was initially proposed to ensure the trade are fully informed and are aware of the financial aid available to operators to become compliant.

“Whilst core aspects of Low Emission Zones in Scotland have been determined at national level, the council can decide upon the shape, size and scope of our LEZ, based upon local requirements . As such we have committed to enforcing Glasgow’s LEZ from June next year subject to the relevant approvals, following an initial delay caused by Covid-19.

“This approach has included due consideration of a number of factors such as the nature and extent of pollution levels, the expected recovery from the pandemic and impact on future pollution, the delay from the original timescale and the financial aid available to affected groups and individuals.”