Cabbies facing financial crisis warn they won't meet Glasgow's Low Emission Zone

Unite Scotland's Cab Section has pleaded with Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to extend the deadline by four years amid fears drivers will be faced with even further financial hardship.

Steven Grant - who is the union's branch secretary - has warned that cabbies will be unable to meet the deadline of June 2023 as industry data shows 75% of Glasgow's taxis currently fail to meet the emission standards. 

He said: "We have lost 18 months of trade to the pandemic which has been detrimental for our drivers. During this time, our drivers were off the roads and losing out on money that would have been invested in new vehicles.

“You can see by the shortage of vehicles that there were, unfortunately, a lot of drivers who could no longer keep going. 

“If you factor in the fact that 75% of Hackney cabs are currently non-complacent, there is no way they will be able to meet the deadline for 2023 - it is too much of an ask."

Currently, phase one of the LEZ only applies to service buses in Glasgow.

Phase two, will, however, require all vehicles entering the city centre to meet Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 6 (diesel) emission regulations.

Unite argue that an extended deadline will allow the electric vehicle market to improve and will, in turn, be more beneficial for the climate emergency.

Steven said: "The LEZ doesn’t address CO2 emissions, which is the focus of climate emergency. It primarily focuses on NOx emissions.

“By allowing extra time to transition to electric vehicles rather than taking on new diesel ones, is a long-term benefit for the climate emergency.”

Tory group leader, Thomas Kerr, joined in on calls for taxi drivers to be granted an extension by penning a letter to the City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, councillor Anna Richardson. 

He added that forcing taxi drivers to prematurely upgrade their vehicles to another emissions-producing model - rather than an electric taxi - will be counterproductive. 

He said: "Many simply can’t afford it and will be driven out of the industry as a result.

“That is why I’m calling on the SNP in Glasgow to bring some relief to our taxi drivers and extend the amount of time they have to make this transition.

“This extension could have a net positive impact in our fight against climate change too.

It is more likely a switch at a later date would be to a fully electric vehicle, rather than replacing one polluting vehicle with another.

“Taxi drivers need more time to prepare for this change to allow the used electric taxi market to mature and charging infrastructure to catch up. I hope the SNP will seriously consider my request on behalf of the taxi trade here in Glasgow.”

Meanwhile, interest-free loans of up to £120,000 have been made available by Energy Saving Trust to enable owners and operators of hackney cabs to replace vehicles that are more than eight-years-old with new, efficient models.

However, Unite claim that drivers will be deterred from applying for them due to debts accumulated during both coronavirus lockdowns. 

Steven said: "Our drivers are already paying a backlog of loans and are already in a level of debt due to both lockdowns. 

"By taking out a personal loan, they would be putting all of their assets at stake and could even lose their homes. It would be different if it was a vehicle loan that was being offered."

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said; “Improving air quality and reducing emissions are vital for the health of Glasgow citizens and the environment. The city’s Low Emission Zone is being phased in so that individuals and businesses have time to prepare.

“We have engaged with taxi operators in respect of the LEZ from the outset and will of course continue to do so, along with individuals and businesses who might also be affected.”