ROUND THE COUNCILS ROCHDALE:
PLANS TO BAN POLLUTING TAXIS
Old taxis pumping out too much pollution will soon be banned from the streets of Greater Manchester – but the councils can’t force this on every cabbie. Rochdale Borough Council is the latest council to have approved plans to ban vehicles that don’t meet the Greater Manchester emissions standards by 31 December 2025. Diesel cars made before 2015 and petrol cars made before 2006 will no longer be allowed as taxis or PHVs by the end of this year in order to reduce harmful roadside levels of nitrogen dioxide. For those unable to meet the new standards for financial reasons, a government fund of £30.5m is proposed to
provide taxi upgrades. However,
councillors fear this change could have little impact on reducing emissions as a large number of PHV drivers are licensed with non-GM authorities. The meeting of the council’s cabinet was told that drivers licensed elsewhere but operating across the region is an issue and that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is pushing the government to change legislation on this. The officer added that City of Wolverhampton Council does have emissions standards in place – meaning some of their vehicles would meet Greater Manchester emissions standards. Wolverhampton standards say newly licensed cars can only be 12 years’ old and vehicle renewals can only have a car 16 years’ old. Although the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has an ambition to make sure every taxi and PHV in the region is licensed locally, they can’t enforce this. Andy Burnham has repeatedly stated he is confident more regulation will be brought in to curb the practice of out-of-area working. A DfT spokesperson told the LDRS previously: “We are aware of the concerns around private hire vehicle licensing, including out-of-area working, and will be considering ways to support local authorities with the issue.” Recently the Government released its Devolution White Paper which amongst other things hopes to reduce the incentive for operators to seek licences from areas far away from where they intend to work, thus reducing the out-of-area working problem. A spokesperson for City of Wolverhampton Council previously said: “While City of Wolverhampton Council has never actively encouraged applications from
PHTM JANUARY 2025
drivers outside the city, existing legislation requires that if an application is submitted and requirements are met, then the application must be granted. The council may not refuse an applicant simply because they live in a different area. “Applicants are usually local to the area they drive in, but many have chosen to be licensed in Wolverhampton due to our efficient, yet rigorous, licensing process. “Public safety is of paramount importance to us. Partnership working with our licensing colleagues and other agencies shows our commitment to upholding our responsibilities; we expect drivers and vehicles licensed by us to always maintain the highest standards.”
MID SUSSEX: DRIVERS TO ACCEPT CARD PAYMENTS
Taxi drivers licensed by Mid Sussex District Council will soon be required to accept card payments from customers, following a decision made at a recent full council meeting. The decision comes after an eight-week public consultation and aims to address concerns raised by residents regarding the safety and convenience of cash-only transactions. The council also voted to remove the cap on the number of hackney carriages licensed in the district, a move intended to increase the availability of wheelchair-accessible taxis. A council report highlighted a significant number of complaints received regarding drivers refusing card payments, citing public safety concerns. While some drivers expressed concerns about connectivity issues in rural areas and potential cash flow problems associated with card payments, councillors ultimately agreed that the current licensing policy needed to be updated. Since 2002, the council has limited the number of licensed hackney carriages to 154, with only 31 currently equipped to accommodate wheelchair users. However, even with the removal of the cap, the shortage of wheelchair-accessible taxis may persist due to the self-employed nature of taxi drivers. The majority of taxi work in the district is concentrated around the three main railway stations, limiting the flexibility and availability of drivers for residents in more rural areas.
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