Taxi operators without access to funded retrofit solutions to meet the minimum emission standards of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone could be given extra time to prepare.
Our Net Zero and Climate Progress Monitoring Committee will hear next week of proposals to grant a ‘time-limited exemption’ of one year to taxi operators under these circumstances, deferring LEZ enforcement until 1 June 2024.
The proposed exemption reflects that without the availability of retrofit – an option largely funded by a Transport Scotland grant – some taxi operators face additional costs to meet the required emission standards to operate in Glasgow beyond the LEZ enforcement date of 1 June 2023.
Taxis that can be retrofitted must be LEZ compliant by June next year, as will all other vehicles driving into the city centre zone. Operators who apply for retrofit funding by the end of October however will not be penalised if they cannot meet the emission standards in time should issues arise regarding funding availability and/or retrofitting capacity. This discretionary mechanism which guarantees a short-term LEZ exemption, is designed to provide support and reassurance to taxi operators who are actively seeking to achieve emissions compliance through retrofit. In a similar vein, ongoing correspondence between the council and the Scottish Government regarding funding support for taxis has resulted in recent improvements to the LEZ Support Fund that will significantly reduce operators’ contribution to the cost of retrofit.
Transport and Climate Convener, Councillor Angus Millar said: “Granting a temporary exemption to taxi operators who cannot access a funded retrofit solution to achieve emissions compliance would be a practical and proportionate way to support the sector ahead of next year’s general enforcement of Glasgow’s LEZ.
“This considered approach seeks to balance our absolute determination to tackle longstanding, illegal levels of air pollution in our city centre as quickly as we can, with our desire to mitigate as far as possible the cost to operators to achieve compliance.
“I also very much welcome the additional funding that has been made available through the retrofit element of the LEZ Support Fund. This will allow for those operators with vehicles that can be retrofitted to the required emission standards, to do so at reduced cost.
“As we head toward LEZ enforcement, we will continue to support the taxi sector in achieving compliance, whether that is by encouraging the early uptake of this improved funding support for retrofits, or by granting operators additional time to prepare where they do not have that option open to them.”
Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone sets an environmental limit in our city centre – restricting access for the most polluting vehicles to improve air quality and protect public health. It will also help accelerate the uptake of less polluting vehicles, encourage people to move away from private car use and increase the safety and attractiveness of our city centre.
The inclusion of all vehicle types in Glasgow’s LEZ design will maximise the health and environmental benefits deliverable and builds upon the first (bus-only) phase which was introduced in 2018 and has since seen a much greater proportion of cleaner, low and zero emission local service buses travelling through our city centre and beyond.
Those living within the LEZ boundary have additional time to prepare, with the enforcement start date for vehicles registered to a residential address within the zone, commencing on 1 June 2024.
A report which will go before the Net Zero Committee on Tuesday 20 September 2022, sets out the council’s intended approach to LEZ exemptions. It also highlights the progress made to establish Glasgow’s LEZ, provides a re-cap of the final scheme design and the intended actions leading to general enforcement from 1 June 2023.
The committee will be asked to note the contents of the report and refer the proposed actions regarding time-limited exemptions for non-funded taxi operators to the City Administration Committee.
The committee report can be accessed by clicking on this link.
