Plans to press on with the city centre Low Emission Zone are expected to be approved this week despite nearly one in four of the city’s taxi fleet not meeting the standard.

Cab owners say they have not had enough time to vehicles ready and the pandemic has hit finances hard leaving less cash to spend on retrofitting engines.

The next phase of the LEZ is due to come in on May 31 this year.

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There will however be a years grace until June 1 2023 before it is enforced.

Of the city’s 1419 strong hackney taxi fleet, 395 are LEZ compliant.

The other, 1024 or 72% of all cabs on the road, are not.

The LEZ regulations mean that generally diesel engine vehicles registered after September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered from 2006 onwards will meet these standards.

Taxi drivers have objected with 123 of the 134 objections lodged coming from the hackney trade.

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They say the pandemic has restricted the ability to invest in compliant vehicles.

Owners say it is costly to wither purchase a new taxi or one that can be retrofitted to meet the standard.

They say exempting taxis from the LEZ for a few years will allow for the market in electric vehicles to mature and become more attractive and cheaper for operators.

The council recognises that Glasgow has an older taxi fleet but that is part of the air pollution problem.

George Gillespie, Executive director of neighbourhoods, regeneration and sustainability told councillors in a report: “The hackney taxi fleet in Glasgow is unique from other taxi fleets in the country in that it comprises a large number of older, non-compliant vehicles.

“This results in this sector being a significant contributor to the air quality problems experienced within the zone, particularly in those streets which experience the highest levels of NO2.

“However, the taxi fleet is also an important part of the transport mix within a busy and vibrant city centre, serving workers, residents, tourists and the night time economy. For these reasons, a generous program of support for taxi improvement is a core element of the LEZ support fund.”

The LEZ final scheme design is to go to the City Administration Committee and Scottish Ministers for approval.