GTR MANCHESTER PROTESTS


The NPHTA, local associations and groups have been working hard for almost four years to resolve clean air and MLS issues in consultations and ongoing meetings. Whilst some aspects have been achieved, sadly, not enough - not even close. In August 2020, there was a protest in Manchester city centre with taxi/private hire drivers, NPHTA members, and Mayoral candidates, hoping to raise public awareness of how the new CAZ charge was going to affect almost everyone. We now have public awareness of the issue with the Rethink The CAZ group having over 80,000 members. This year, the protests are more frequent and widespread (as seen below) most of which have included both hackney and private hire drivers, with the full support of the NPHTA. This activity will continue to grow, starting with the GM CAZ protest on Thursday 3 February. From 10.30am to 2pm drivers and operators from all ten areas of the GM charging zone will come together in their regions, to then head down to local town halls - no bookings will be taken in this time. We will fight on until we start to see some results!


HUNDREDS OF STRIKING ROCHDALE PH AND TAXI DRIVERS LINE STREETS IN CLEAN AIR ZONE PROTEST


The first few weeks of 2022 in Greater Manchester have been dominated by complaints over the CAZ, which would see some commercial vehicles charged daily to enter the zone. Hundreds of PH and taxi drivers took to the streets of Rochdale on Monday 24 January in protest against plans for CAZ charges across Manchester . According to the Manchester Evening News, cabbies were out on foot - with all taxi and PH firms in the borough carrying out 24-hour strike action. The firms, representing roughly around 1,200 drivers in Rochdale, were also protesting against changes to the min- imum standards required across Greater Manchester which will mean hackney carriages and PHVs must be less than five years old, and vehicles older than ten years must be scrapped. Drivers gathered outside One Riverside - the main civic centre for the town. The strike action began at 6am Monday and continued until 6am on Tuesday. Placards said ‘Save Our Trade’ and ‘Unjust and Unfair Minimum Standards’ and speakers addressed crowds outside Rochdale Council offices. While the Clean Air ‘minimum licensing standards’ (MLS) aim to create a greener environment by introducing new requirements around emissions, testing and accessibility, taxi drivers in Rochdale say they will come at a cost. A statement from the Rochdale Associ- ation for Private Hire Drivers said: “If the


16 Watch here: https://fb.watch/aTEPsCJjF5/


proposals go ahead, many drivers will be forced out of the trade and those that do continue will be hit with huge costs. “As a result of this, the prices paid for taxis by customers will be significantly increased at a time where the pandemic has already caused severe hardship.” A joint statement was issued on behalf of all private hire drivers and operators in Rochdale. It statement read: “Firstly, we would like to sincerely apologise to the local community for the disruption caused by the taxi trade strike. “After many years of talks and meetings with RMBC, no mutual resolution has been met. To avoid strike action, we have made three further attempts to meet with RMBC representatives, but unfortunately, they refused to meet us. “After over three years of mostly remote consultations, RMBC has not taken any of our concerns on board and the proposals we put forward have been given zero consideration. “As a result of poor consultation and


ongoing unwillingness to engage in consultation talks, the PH drivers across Rochdale and the neighbouring boroughs have no option but to take action for their voices to be heard. “RMBC has pushed the Clean Air and MLS through without thought to the financial impact on both the drivers and the public, at a time when we’re all struggling from the pandemic. It seems RMBC has little consideration for this.” The joint statement further explained: “These changes come at a time when the whole community is already under severe financial strain. We are not against clean air. However, daily charges will not improve air quality. “We have since learnt that the daily charges have been temporarily paused. “Clearly, this has not been well thought out. Originally, it was the Clean Air reg- ulations that provided funding for taxi drivers to upgrade their vehicles.” The statement said that the costs of meeting the regulations were ‘quite ridiculous and completely wasteful’. It warned the restrictions could impose further disruptions to taxi services. The statement concluded: “Public safety may be compromised as a result of no longer being able to afford to travel. Ensuring vulnerable people get home safely may no longer be an option. Ring- ing an ambulance instead of taking a taxi. We want to avoid these scenarios. “Please bear with us and support the taxi drivers so they can support you.”


FEBRUARY 2022


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